Eidos have let slip with the first details of the next instalment of Tomb Raider - the first game in the series to be developed by Crystal Dynamics after Brit coders Core Design were dropped last year following the Angel of Darkness debacle.

"We are doing a lot of market research, in terms of the direction of the content and of the character, " says Eidos CEO Mike McGarvey of the seventh Tomb Raider. "But the fundamental technology is already complete and the character is up and running in the environment, with new moves and a new control system. We are not in a position right now to articulate the creative direction of the franchise. It's still a little early. But we're certainly very excited about what we've seen so far. "