Days Gone director joins Tomb Raider’s Crystal Dynamics

Lara to start sporting bootcut jeans?

Jeff Ross, director of Sony Bend’s successful survival horror adventure Days Gone, has announced that they have saddled up the ol’ hog and taken up a new role with Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the hugely successful Tomb Raider reboot. Ross will work at CD in the role of Design Director.

Ross confirmed the news on social media, though the director remained tight-lipped regarding the projects he will now be plying his trade on. Given that Crystal Dynamics literally announced a new, Unreal 5-based Tomb Raider title earlier this week, and given Days Gone‘s atmospheric “wilderness” nature, it seems a pretty snug assumption that Ross will be helping to form Ms. Croft’s next journey into the undergrowth.

Despite the (admittedly surprising) sales success of Days Gone, which even beat NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat 11 to the top of the UK Charts, Sony Interactive Entertainment was seemingly disappointed with the open-world adventure’s success, putting the kibosh on a planned sequel. While he has not openly expressed this, one would assume that Ross’ movement to Crystal Dynamics might afford him the opportunity to transition some of his Days Gone 2 ideas into Lara’s equally dangerous world.

The untitled Tomb Raider project is in development now at Crystal Dynamics.

I'm excited to announce I now work at the amazing Crystal Dynamics as Design Director. That's all I can say other than I'm thrilled with the project, and especially the team of really wonderful people.

I will become a Seattleite this summer.

Also–Come work with me! https://t.co/HjDFIFk7MF

— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) April 5, 2022