Well, that didn’t take modders long.
Within mere hours of the release of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered on February 15, an NSFW mod of Lara Croft has already emerged online. This new development cheekily harks back to one of the oldest rumors in gaming history: the mythical “nude code.”
Despite the original rumor never being true, the internet’s fascination with such mods has persisted, with the latest Tomb Raider remaster becoming their newest target.
The Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (we know, it’s a handful), developed by Aspyr, brings a significant graphical overhaul to the first three games in the iconic franchise. The enhancements include modern controls, high framerate support, and a visual upgrade to Lara Croft, curves and all. The collection has been met with positive feedback from critics and fans alike, garnering a massive amount of favorable reviews on modern platforms.
Suffice it to say, the remaster has succeeded in its goal of offering a fresh take on Lara Croft’s original adventures while staying true to the spirit of the original games.
However, the release also saw the quick appearance of a topless mod for Lara Croft on Nexus Mods. This mod, which alters Lara’s appearance by removing her clothing, serves as a tragic reminder of a long-standing issue regarding the industry’s needless objectification of female characters.
The original “Tomb Raider nude code” rumor was a fabrication that persisted for most of the late ’90s and early 2000s, despite confirmation from the game’s creators that a code like this never existed. Instead, what kept the rumor alive was a fan-made patch called Nude Raider.
The decision to create and upload such a mod for the remastered collection raises questions about the portrayal of female characters in video games and the ongoing need for respectful representation. It also highlights the disconnect between the developers’ vision for the game and certain segments of the gaming community.
Despite this somewhat unsavory aspect of Lara Croft’s past resurfacing with the remaster’s release, the collection’s release remains a celebratory moment for long-time franchise fans. It offers fans and newcomers alike the chance to experience Lara Croft’s early adventures in updated visual fidelity while remaining faithful to her original design.
