Answered by: Steeve Goodale - Creative Director (Design) at Crystal Dynamics.

Now that Tomb Raider: Underworld is out there how proud are you of the game?
We’re extraordinarily proud of what we accomplished with Tomb Raider: Underworld. From doing the best job we’re ever done on the corner-stones of Tomb Raider game-play to hugely advancing the story, we’ve taken Lara Croft firmly into her biggest adventure yet.

Tomb Raider: Underworld has been well received by the press. What do you believe is the main reason for this?
We always kept two things in mind when making the game, “What Could Lara Do?” and keeping the gameplay experience “Epic”. “What Could Lara Do?” worked beautifully to challenge the design during the planning stages, giving us a rich feature set of gameplay elements to build with. Wanting to make the game feel epic raised the bar across the board; puzzles, level scope, story, purpose, combat, everything was evaluated against this and if it didn’t measure up it went back to the drawing board until it hit the bar.

Do you have any plans for a Lara Croft Xbox LIVE clothing pack?
Yes we do! There are two new costume packs available right now on Marketplace for FREE. New costumes will also be included with Beneath the Ashes everything from jungle outfits to bikinis will be available.


Okay, let’s talk about Beneath the Ashes. Can you tell us why you wanted to add a new PDLC experience to Tomb Raider: Underworld?
We knew Tomb Raider fans wanted more than we could possibly cram into one disk. Adding a new level, enemy, and environment via the PDLC for Lara to adventure around is a natural fit. Beneath the Ashes is a brand new extension to the gameplay of Tomb Raider: Underworld set in a never-seen-before environment.

Give us an introduction to Beneath the Ashes and how it fits into the story of Tomb Raider: Underworld.
Following the events that took place in Tomb Raider: Underworld, Lara returns to the charred remains of the Mansion. While dealing with the shattering personal losses she’s endured, she uncovers a massive series of caverns and age old crypts which she discovers were used by her father to protect and secret away a deadly source of power. You don’t have to have completed Tomb Raider: Underworld to play and enjoy Beneath the Ashes though, it’s a standalone adventure.

How big of an experience is Beneath the Ashes and what is it priced at?
It’s big; it’s as big as any level of the game that we shipped in the Tomb Raider: Underworld box. It’ll be priced at 800 points.

Does Beneath the Ashes add any new gameplay features, costumes or objects to the game?
We’re releasing a new level with its own story, path, a new enemy, and brand-new large-scale puzzles. On top of that we’re including six new costumes with Beneath the Ashes that will be playable in Underworld as well.


Does Beneath the Ashes add additional Achievements to the game?
What would a PDLC be without Achievements? We’ve devised Achievements unique to Beneath the Ashes that really complement this completely new level. There are 125 new achievement points in Beneath the Ashes.

What plans do you have for even more Tomb Raider: Underworld PDLC?
Everyone here is excited to continue delivering completely new play experiences to complement, enhance, and expand Tomb Raider: Underworld. Expect Lara’s Shadow to crank up the heat, the new playable character makes it a new Tomb Raider experience.

When will the Beneath the Ashes pack be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace?
Thanks for the opportunity to chat with the communities! Look for Beneath the Ashes on the 10th February. (ed. Update: Incorrect date, new to be announced).