Toby Gard, the reason Lady Croft exists at all, has left California-based Crystal Dynamics to become an independent consultant, he’s currently ”no longer working with them”.
Recently he was ”leading a design group” for an unannounced project at the developer. Gard joined Crystal as a consultant, before shifting to lead designer for the Anniversary title.
”Obviously it’s confidential what goes on at Crystal Dynamics,” Gard told Develop, ”but the situation is that I’m no longer working with them, and I’ve started up my own consultancy business.”
The Croft creator wouldn’t confirm the precise reason for his sudden departure. He consulted on Tomb Raider Legend, became Lead Designer for Tomb Raider Anniversary and then served as Cinematic Director for Tomb Raider Underworld at Crystal Dynamics.
Is it a good thing Lara Croft is splitting from her past? In 2004, Gard managed to have his own developer studio Confounding Factor release Xbox title Galleon, after much trouble.
British man Toby Gard, creator of Tomb Raider
