OG Tomb Raider gets gorgeous RTX remaster

Lara Croft in all her forms is glorious, but there’s something about the 1990s original that hits differently. The problem is, the graphics can be a strain on our eyes, and make recapturing that joy difficult.

Or is that about to change? For fans who’ve wanted to return to the 1996 32-bit original, they can enjoy a sneak peak of a fan remake that’s sure to bring a smile to your face. YouTube’s Dominus Aurate has uploaded a clip of a RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod WIP.

There’s still a long way to go before this mod is ready, but Aurate has given fans the chance to watch Croft in her OG form, but with a slight upgrade. Now she casts shadows, the lighting isn’t just a block of murky pixels, and we’re even given the occasional reflection effect that is *chef’s kiss*.

However, if Croft’s angular charm is part of the reason you still fondly recall the original, fear not, as while the RTX Remix adds some modern finesse to graphics, the retro textures are still incredibly 90s. Think of this as the best of worlds scenario, which, let’s face, is what a lot of Tomb Raider fans want above all else.

Unfortunately, while the clip is tantalising and gorgeous to look at, there’s no download for the RTX Remix Mod yet. And, even worse, we’re not sure when it will become available. At this moment in time, the RTX Remix Creator Tool still isn’t out yet either, and so we have to content ourselves with the scraps we’re given.

Of course, if you’re a Lara Croft who prefers their heroine pixel perfection, running on a new engine, then there’s the glimmer of hope that the new Tomb Raider game will release in summer 2024. However, there’s no fixed date yet, and so speculation is all gamers have to keep them going.

Whether you’re Team OG or not, this gorgeous fan remake is giving us the urge to dig out our old PS1 and braving those blocky graphics. After all, with no further updates to the rumours of a Tomb Raider remake by new owners, it’s left to us fans to create the content we crave!