Rhianna Pratchett Bids a Fond Farewell to the ‘Tomb Raider’ Franchise

In their first major announcement of 2017, Crystal Dynamics announced that Rhianna Pratchett, the lead writer for the best-selling games Tomb Raider (2013) and Rise of the Tomb Raider, will be parting ways with the Tomb Raider franchise to focus on new projects.

The team thanked Rhianna for her dedication and tireless efforts on both games and wrote that she was “instrumental in helping [them] find Lara’s voice in the 2013 origin story” and shaping Lara Croft “into the evolving heroine we know today”.

CrystalD & @Rhipratchett are announcing that Rhianna is off to pursue new adventures apart from Tomb Raider. The en… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
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Tomb Raider (@tombraider) January 03, 2017

While the reboot series and its protagonist have proven divisive among fans, it’s clear that Rhianna Pratchett and her fellow writers have made their mark on the Tomb Raider franchise by bringing their own unique twist to the decades-old franchise and earning the respect of countless gamers in the process.

Shortly after the announcement of her departure appeared on Twitter, Rhianna Pratchett took to social media to bid a “fond farewell to Lara” and to thank her colleagues and the Tomb Raider fan community for their support over the past few years.

So, I'm packing up my climbing axe plus a little venison jerky for the road, and bidding a fond farewell to Lara. Onwards to new adventures!
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Rhianna Pratchett (@rhipratchett) January 03, 2017

I want to thank the @CrystalDynamics team for their dedication esp. @jstafford @josefkstories & @noahmhughes. Guys, it's been emotional.
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Rhianna Pratchett (@rhipratchett) January 03, 2017

But, I like to think we did some good things. Maybe shifted the gaming landscape a wee bit. And that feels damn good.
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Rhianna Pratchett (@rhipratchett) January 03, 2017

I also want to thank TR's terrific fan community. You really are the best in the world. Constantly helping me remember why I do this job.
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Rhianna Pratchett (@rhipratchett) January 03, 2017

While a vocal minority expressed some less than complimentary comments regarding Pratchett’s role within the franchise, a greater number of fans were saddened about the news of her departure and thanked the writer for inspiring them and giving them a heroine they could truly relate to.

@tombraider @rhipratchett You brought her alive to me, and were the main force that drew me into TR -- and I will always be grateful 💛
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HeidiW (@HeidiW_) January 03, 2017

@HeidiW_ @tombraider @rhipratchett seconded! We'll miss the authentic, emotive voice you gave Lara, but best wishes for your future projects
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Noelle K. Adams (@pfangirl) January 03, 2017

@rhipratchett All the best for the future and thanks for these two awesome games that first brought me to @tombraider !
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Andreas (@derjockel) January 03, 2017

@tombraider @rhipratchett you really did bring a new aspect to her made her feel alive and the fandom can't thank you enough. 💙
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Jamie Elliott (@JamieCroft93) January 03, 2017

@rhipratchett Thank you for everything. Just letting you know you have a large fan base in China, too. Wishing you the best of luck!
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June 老陈 (@TombRaiderCN) January 03, 2017

@rhipratchett We'll be missing you a lot ❤ I will always have a special place for Jaffa Cakes (NOT Irn-Bru!) Best of luck for the future!
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Cath Vandier ✏ (@pixelcath) January 03, 2017

I hope @CrystalDynamics finds a games writer lady as awesome as @rhipratchett 🙂 Will be hard to beat but TR needs that female perspective!
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Dmitri ☕️ (@dima_ivanovich) January 03, 2017

@rhipratchett @jstafford @noahmhughes ahhh! Thank *you*! It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.
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Cameron Suey (@josefkstories) January 03, 2017

Those games and our collaboration will always occupy a special place in my ❤ Thanks for being such an amazing and t… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
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Noah Hughes (@noahmhughes) January 03, 2017

No matter how you may feel about Rhianna Pratchett’s involvement in the Tomb Raider franchise or her other work, she deserves kudos for introducing a whole new generation of fans to the franchise (some of whom are now discovering the older games) and for helping put Lara Croft back on the proverbial map.

Thank you for your outstanding efforts, Rhianna. You and your Jaffa cakes will be missed.

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