Crystal Dynamics clarifies Tomb Raider ‘rape’ comment

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has set off to clarify a few "misunderstood" comments regarding game heroine Lara Croft.

Speaking to Kotaku at E3, Tomb Raider executive producer Ron Rosenberg suggested that the attempted rape of Lara Croft will make players want to "protect" her, likening her to that of a "cornered animal". You can imagine the sentiment that must have left with people who read the interview, but before things get "out of hand", studio head Darrell Gallagher published a statement on the game's official site insisting Rosenberg's comments have been misconstrued.

"We had a great E3 with Tomb Raider and received a fantastic public and press response, with the game picking up numerous game of the show awards based on the new direction taken with the franchise," Gallagher wrote. "Unfortunately we were not clear in a recent E3 press interview and things have been misunderstood. Before this gets out of hand, let me explain."

"In making this Tomb Raider origins story our aim was to take Lara Croft on an exploration of what makes her the character she embodies in late Tomb Raider games. One of the character defining moments for Lara in the game," he continued, "which has incorrectly been referred to as an 'attempted rape' scene is the content we showed at this year's E3 and which over a million people have now seen in our recent trailer entitled 'Crossroads'. This is where Lara is forced to kill another human for the first time."

"In this particular section, while there is a threatening undertone in the sequence and surrounding drama, it never goes any further than the scenes that we have already shown publicly. Sexual assault of any kind is categorically not a theme that we cover in this game," Gallagher assured fans. "We take great care and pride in our work and are focused on creating a release that will deliver meaningful storytelling, drama, and exciting gameplay. We're sorry this has not been better explained, we'll certainly be more careful with what is said in future."

If you haven't yet seen the 'Crossroads' trailer that Gallagher is speaking of, you can check it out above. Lara Croft literally goes through hell during it. Some have even likened the trailer to be a form of "torture porn". Regardless, it was a pretty shocking trailer that depicts just a small portion of what you'll experience in Tomb Raider. And I have to say, from our preview at E3, it's going to be an intense experience.