Originally slated for launch in fall 2012, the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot has been pushed back until the first quarter of 2013. News of the delay comes courtesy of the official Tomb Raider forums, where Crystal Dynamics head Darrell Gallagher was quoted to say that the studio is attempting to make not only a great Tomb Raider game, but the best game possible from the team.

“When Crystal Dynamics first set out to reboot the Tomb Raider franchise, there were two goals that we were extremely passionate about,” said Gallagher. “The first was to create a modern Tomb Raider game that would surprise and excite gamers. The second was to make this the best game of our careers, something we would be really proud to be a part of. We truly believe that we have something very special on our hands and we can’t wait to share it with you.”

Gallagher went on to explain that in order to deliver in terms of quality, extra time was necessary to ensure that fans get exactly what they’ve been wanting out of a Tomb Raider game. He also confirmed that the game would be showcased at this year’s E3. Anyone who’s been looking forward to Tomb Raider should definitely be stoked to get some more info and a closer look at the gameplay when the huge trade event takes place next month.

Tomb Raider looks like a promising title and has quickly become a game to watch out for. So if the developers need a few months to make some tweaks and enhancements, more power to them. I’m certain Tomb Raider fans want the best experience possible, and if a delay is what it takes, we really can’t complain. Plus, if Crystal Dynamics was to release the game this fall, it probably wouldn’t be the best marketing strategy with games like Borderlands 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Assassin’s Creed III, and Resident Evil 6 among others launching during that time.

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