Crystal Dynamics is an American video game developer that was founded in 1992 by Madeline Canepa, Judy Lange, and Dave Morse. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, Crystal Dynamics was the first licensed developer for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console.[1] Their first release, Crash 'n Burn, was included as a pack-in game with the console.[2] The 3DO's launch during the 1993 Christmas season was a commercial failure, severely damaging Crystal Dynamics' software strategy.[1] In 1994, the company became a publisher for two new gaming platforms, the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn.[1] The studio was acquired by Eidos Interactive, a British video game publisher, in 1998, which was in turn bought by Square Enix in 2009.[3]

Crystal Dynamics is best known for developing the Legacy of Kain and Gex series.[1] Although the first Legacy of Kain video game was developed by Silicon Knights,[4] Crystal Dynamics gained the rights to the franchise in 1998[5] and released four sequels between 1999 and 2003. In 2003, the studio took over the development of the best-selling Tomb Raider franchise[6] after its original developer, Core Design, failed to gain critical or commercial success with their later games.[7][8] Crystal Dynamics' first Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Legend, became a commercial success with 4.5 million copies sold as of February 2009.[9] Its sequel, Tomb Raider: Underworld, sold 2.6 million copies.[9] Since 2003, the studio has developed five games in the series, encompassing two reboots of the franchise.[10]

Video games

Developed

Over 30 video games have been developed by Crystal Dynamics. The following table showcases the corresponding title, release date, publisher and the platforms on which each game was released along with any other relevant information. A detailed overview of each game can be found in their corresponding articles.

Key
Blank cell indicates title was not released on any platform(s) by the specified manufacturers
Cell with games console(s) indicates title was released on platform(s) by the specified manufacturers
List of games developed by Crystal Dynamics
Title Release details Platform(s)
Microsoft Nintendo Sega Sony Other
Crash 'n Burn[11]
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: 1993
 3DO
Total Eclipse[12]
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: 1994
 PlayStation 3DO
Off-World Interceptor[13]
  • Genre: Shooter
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: 1994
 Saturn PlayStation 3DO
Samurai Shodown[14]
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: 1994
 3DO
Gex[15][a]
  • Genre: Platform
  • Publishers: BMG Interactive
  • Release date: April 1995
 Windows Saturn PlayStation 3DO
Solar Eclipse[16]
  • Genre: Shooter
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: 1995
 Saturn PlayStation
3D Baseball[17]
  • Genre: Sports
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: October 31, 1996
 Saturn PlayStation
Pandemonium 2[18]
  • Genre: Platform
  • Publishers: Midway Games
  • Release date: September 30, 1997
 Windows PlayStation
Gex: Enter the Gecko[19]
  • Genre: Platform
  • Publishers: Midway Games
  • Release date: January 1998
 Windows N64
GBC 		PlayStation
Akuji the Heartless[20]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: December 31, 1998
 PlayStation
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko[21][b]
  • Genre: Platform
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: March 1, 1999
 N64
GBC 		PlayStation
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver[22][c]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: August 16, 1999
 Windows Dreamcast PlayStation
Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour[23][d]
  • Genre: Racing
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: March 23, 2000
 Windows GBC Dreamcast PlayStation
102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue[24][e]
  • Genre: Platform
  • Publishers: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: November 8, 2000
 Windows GBC Dreamcast PlayStation
Soul Reaver 2[25][c]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: October 31, 2001
 Windows PlayStation 2
Mad Dash Racing[26]
  • Genre: Racing
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: November 14, 2001
 Xbox
Blood Omen 2[27][f]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: March 21, 2002
 Windows
Xbox 		GameCube PlayStation 2
Legacy of Kain: Defiance[28][g]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: November 11, 2003
 Windows
Xbox 		PlayStation 2
Whiplash[29]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: November 18, 2003
 Xbox PlayStation 2
Project: Snowblind[30][h]
  • Genre: Shooter
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: February 22, 2005
 Windows
Xbox 		PlayStation 2
Tomb Raider: Legend[31][i]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: April 7, 2006
 Windows
Xbox
Xbox 360 		GameCube
GBA
DS 		PlayStation 2
PSP
PlayStation 3
Tomb Raider: Anniversary[32][j]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: June 5, 2007
 Windows
Xbox 360 		Wii PlayStation 2
PSP
PlayStation 3 		Mac OS
Mobile
Tomb Raider: Underworld[33][k]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publishers: Eidos Interactive
  • Release date: November 18, 2008
 Windows
Xbox 360 		DS
Wii 		PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3 		Mac OS
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light[34][l]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release date: August 18, 2010
 Windows
Xbox 360 		PlayStation 3 iOS
Stadia
Tomb Raider[35][m]
  • Genre: Action-adventure
 Windows
Xbox 360
Xbox One 		PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4 		Mac OS
Linux
Stadia
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris[37]
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release date: December 9, 2014
 Windows
Xbox One 		Mad Dash Racing: PlayStation 4 Stadia
Lara Croft: Relic Run[38][39]
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release date: May 28, 2015
 Windows Phone iOS, Android
Rise of the Tomb Raider[40][n]
  • Genre: Action-adventre
  • Publishers: Square Enix
  • Release date: November 10, 2015
 Windows
Xbox 360
Xbox One 		PlayStation 4 Mac OS
Linux
Stadia
Shadow of the Tomb Raider[43]
  • Genre: Action-adventure
  • Publishers: Square Enix
  • Release date: September 14, 2018
 Windows
Xbox One 		PlayStation 4 Mac OS
Linux
Stadia
Marvel's Avengers
  • Genre: Action
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release date: September 4, 2020
 Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S 		PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5 		Stadia
Perfect Dark
  • Genre: Action
 Windows
Xbox Series X/S
Untitled Tomb Raider game
  • Genre: Action
 TBA TBA TBA

Published

In addition to developing its own video games, Crystal Dynamics also published several games by other developers in the mid 1990s, sometimes serving as the publisher only for specific platforms or in specific regions.

List of games published by Crystal Dynamics
Title Release details Platform(s)
Microsoft Nintendo Sega Sony Other
The Horde[45] Windows Saturn PlayStation 3DO
Star Control II
  • Genre: Strategy
 3DO
Slam 'N Jam '95[46] 3DO
Slam 'N Jam '96 Featuring Magic & Kareem[47] MS-DOS Saturn PlayStation
Blazing Dragons[48] Saturn PlayStation
Pandemonium[49][o]
  • Genre: Platform
  • Developer: Toys for Bob
  • Release date: October 31, 1996
 Windows Saturn PlayStation
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
  • Genre: Action-adventure
 Windows PlayStation

Notes

  1. ^ The PlayStation version of Gex was developed by Beam Software.[15]
  2. ^ The Nintendo 64 version of Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko was developed by Gratuitous Games.[21]
  3. ^ a b The Dreamcast version of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver and the Windows version of Soul Reaver 2 were developed by Nixxes Software.[22]
  4. ^ The Game Boy Color version of Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour was developed by Prolific Publishing.[23]
  5. ^ The Microsoft Windows version of 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue was co-developed with Prolific Publishing; the Game Boy Color version was developed by Digital Eclipse Software and the PlayStation version by Toys for Bob.[24]
  6. ^ The Windows, Xbox and GameCube versions of Blood Omen 2 were developed by Nixxes Software.[27]
  7. ^ The Windows and Xbox versions of Legacy of Kain: Defiance were developed by Nixxes Software.[28]
  8. ^ The PC and Xbox versions of Project: Snowblind were developed by Nixxes Software.[30]
  9. ^ The Nintendo DS version of Tomb Raider: Legend was developed by Human Soft, and the PlayStation Portable version by Crystal Dynamics along with Buzz Monkey Software.[31]
  10. ^ The Mac OS version of Tomb Raider: Anniversary was developed by Robosoft Technologies and published by Feral Interactive. The Windows version was developed by Nixxes Software. The mobile version was developed by FinBlade.[32]
  11. ^ The PlayStation 3 and Windows versions of Tomb Raider: Underworld were developed by Nixxes Software; the Nintendo DS version by Santa Cruz Games. The Mac OS version of the game was published by Feral Interactive.[33]
  12. ^ The iOS version of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light was developed by Ideaworks Game Studio. The PlayStation 3 and Windows versions of the game were co-developed with Nixxes Software.[34]
  13. ^ Additional development by Eidos Montréal; ported to Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One by Nixxes Software, and to OS X and Linux by Feral Interactive.[36]
  14. ^ Rise of the Tomb Raider is the sequel to the 2013 Tomb Raider video game. The Xbox 360 version was developed by Nixxes Software. The Mac OS X and Linux version was developed by Feral Interactive.[41][42]
  15. ^ Published only.[49]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Crystal Dynamics". InterGames. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  2. ^ "Shelley Duvall's It's a Bird's Life". Entertainment Weekly. January 14, 1994. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  3. ^ Ransom, James (July 7, 2009). "Eidos dissolved into 'Square Enix Europe', layoffs likely". Joystiq. AOL Inc. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  4. ^ "SK: The Complete Guide To Legacy of Kain - Behind The Scenes". Silicon Knights. Archived from the original on December 18, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  5. ^ Casamassina, Matt (October 19, 2000). "The Art of Making Games". IGN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  6. ^ "Eidos dumps Core, shifts Tomb Raider development". Spong. July 30, 2003. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  7. ^ Dormer, Dan (June 16, 2006). "Rebellion Purchases Core Design". 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Snow, Blake (February 3, 2006). "Tomb Raider: Legend, it's a date!". Joystiq. AOL Inc. Archived from the original on January 27, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Eidos plc half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 31 December 2008". FE Investegate. March 8, 2009. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  10. ^ Brown, Nathan (May 3, 2011). "Crystal Dynamics: Tomb Raider Reboot". Edge. Future Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  11. ^ Crash N Burn:
  12. ^ Total Eclipse:
  13. ^ Off-World Interceptor:
  14. ^ Samurai Shodown:
    • Douglas Smith, Geoffrey. "Samurai Shodown". Allgame. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Gex:
  16. ^ Solar Eclipse:
  17. ^ 3D Baseball:
  18. ^ Pandemonium 2:
  19. ^ Gex: Enter the Gecko:
  20. ^ Akuji the Heartless:
  21. ^ a b Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko:
  22. ^ a b Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver:
  23. ^ a b Walt Disney World Quest:
  24. ^ a b 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue:
  25. ^ Soul Reaver 2:
  26. ^ Mad Dash Racing:
  27. ^ a b Blood Omen 2
  28. ^ a b Legacy of Kain: Defiance
  29. ^ Whiplash:
    • Marriott, Scott Alan. "Whiplash (PS2)". Allgame. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
    • Marriott, Scott Alan. "Whiplash (Xbox)". Allgame. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  30. ^ a b Project Snowblind:
  31. ^ a b Tomb Raider: Legend:
  32. ^ a b Tomb Raider: Anniversary:
  33. ^ a b Tomb Raider: Underworld:
  34. ^ a b Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light:
  35. ^ Tomb Raider:
  36. ^ Kubba, Sinan (January 23, 2014). "Tomb Raider arrows onto Mac, out now". Joystiq. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  37. ^ Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light:
  38. ^ Reynolds, Matthew (May 28, 2015). "How much of Lara Croft's endless runner spin-off Relic Run is a Tomb Raider game?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  39. ^ Matulef, Jeffery (May 28, 2015). "Lara Croft: Relic Run is out now on mobile devices". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  40. ^ Rise of the Tomb Raider:
  41. ^ "Establish a legend in Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, out now for macOS". Feral Interactive. April 12, 2018. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  42. ^ "Lara Croft returns to Linux in Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration". Feral Interactive. April 19, 2018. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  43. ^ Shadow of the Tomb Raider:
  44. ^ Cabello, Marcos. "Amazon Will Publish the Tomb Raider Game". CNET. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  45. ^ The Horde:
    • House, Matthew. "The Horde". Allgame. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  46. ^ Slam 'N Jam:
  47. ^ Slam 'N Jam '96:
  48. ^ Blazing Dragons:
  49. ^ a b Pandemonium:

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