Tomb Raider
The first entry in the series "Tomb Raider" was released in 1996 for personal computers (PC), PlayStation and Sega Saturn consoles. The Saturn and PlayStation versions were released in Japan in 1997. The second game, "Tomb Raider II", launched in 1997, again for PC and PlayStation. A month before release, Eidos finalised a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment to keep the console version of "Tomb Raider II" and future games exclusive to PlayStation until the year 2000. The PlayStation version was released in Japan in 1998. "Tomb Raider III" launched in 1998. As with "Tomb Raider II", the PlayStation version released in Japan the following year. The fourth consecutive title in the series, "", released in 1999. In 2000, with the end of the PlayStation exclusivity deal, the game also released on the Dreamcast. In Japan, both console versions released the following year. "Tomb Raider Chronicles" released in 2000 on the same platforms as "The Last Revelation", with the PlayStation version's Japanese release as before coming the following year.
Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics had been most known for developing "Legacy of Kain" and "Gex", but in 2003, the studio was also entrusted the development of the best-selling "Tomb Raider" franchise after its original developer, Core Design, failed to gain critical or commercial success with their later "Tomb Raider" games, and released its first game in the series in 2006, "", which was the fastest-selling game in the entire series, selling 4.5 million units worldwide. Crystal Dynamics co-developed "" with developer Buzz Monkey Software. "", a remake of the first "Tomb Raider" game, was released in June 2007. The next installment, "", was released the following year in October 2008. Crystal Dynamics' next release was the spin-off title "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light", which did not feature the "Tomb Raider" branding despite utilizing the lead character. The game was released for digital distribution only.