Studio Hiring Guide
How to Get Hired at
Crystal Dynamics
The studio behind the modern Tomb Raider trilogy and Marvel’s Avengers. Now developing a new Tomb Raider on Unreal Engine 5 with Amazon Games publishing.
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Art Style Across Crystal Dynamics’s Games
Crystal Dynamics builds photorealistic adventure environments ranging from ancient jungle ruins to snow-capped Siberian wilderness. Their work sets a high bar for environmental storytelling.
Siberian Wilderness & Ancient Structures
Frozen environments, crumbling Soviet installations and Trinity ruins across Siberia and Syria. The environment team created rich layered landscapes with strong weather and lighting variation, earning the game praise for visual quality at launch.
Mesoamerican Jungle & Underwater Exploration
Dense jungle environments, Mayan and Incan architecture, and extensive underwater sequences. The art team built a complete ecosystem: lush foliage, ancient stone, water rendering and the visual contrast between civilisation and wilderness.
Survival Horror & Island Destruction
The reboot that established the modern visual identity. Dark, survival horror aesthetic with a wrecked Japanese island setting. Environment artists balanced beautiful destruction with intimate campfire-lit safe zones.
Next-Generation Lara Croft
Currently in development on Unreal Engine 5 with Amazon Games publishing. Early hiring suggests significant artistic ambition. This project is the primary driver of Crystal Dynamics’ current talent needs.
How Crystal Dynamics Hires Game Artists
Crystal Dynamics runs a standard AAA hiring process. The Unreal Engine 5 transition has changed some technical requirements for recent roles.
Application + Portfolio Submission
Applications go through Crystal Dynamics’ careers page (Embracer Group portal). Your portfolio is reviewed by the art team first. Focus your submitted work on photorealistic environments and/or characters that align with Tomb Raider’s adventure aesthetic.
Recruiter Screen
An initial call from the recruiting team covering your discipline, tools, experience and location. Crystal Dynamics is Redwood City-based. California has income tax at up to 13.3%, which affects effective compensation.
Art Lead Technical Interview
A 60-90 minute portfolio walkthrough with an art lead. Questions will focus on your creative decision-making, how you approach environmental storytelling, and your experience with photorealistic material pipelines.
Art Test
Environment and character roles typically include a test. Given the UE5 transition, current art tests may specifically test Nanite/Lumen workflows or established UE5 best practices alongside discipline-specific quality.
Final Interview + Offer
A final round with art director or studio leadership. Offer is in USD. Redwood City is in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has very high cost of living. Factor this into salary negotiation.
Crystal Dynamics Artist Salary Ranges
Crystal Dynamics is in Redwood City, CA. Bay Area cost of living is high and California income tax reaches 13.3%. Factor both into any offer evaluation.
| Role | Seniority | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Environment Artist | Mid | USD 78K – 108K |
| Environment Artist | Senior | USD 108K – 145K |
| Character Artist | Mid | USD 75K – 105K |
| Character Artist | Senior | USD 105K – 142K |
| Technical Artist | Mid | USD 88K – 120K |
| Technical Artist | Senior | USD 120K – 160K |
| VFX Artist | Mid/Senior | USD 82K – 138K |
| Lighting Artist | Mid/Senior | USD 80K – 130K |
Portfolio Tips for Crystal Dynamics Applications
Environment Artists
- Show natural environments: jungle, rock, water, foliage at high quality
- Include ancient architecture: Mayan, Greek, Egyptian or similar
- Demonstrate strong storytelling through environmental detail
- UE5 Nanite and Lumen work is directly relevant to current projects
Character Artists
- Realistic human anatomy at film quality is the baseline expectation
- Show clothing and gear appropriate to adventure/survival contexts
- Include facial detail with expressive range for cinematic characters
- Demonstrate organic and hard-surface material work together
VFX Artists
- Environmental VFX: rain, waterfall, mist, fire in jungle and cave contexts
- Cinematic VFX for third-person action sequences
- Houdini simulation baked to real-time assets is valued
- Show how VFX integrate with environmental storytelling, not just action
Lighting Artists
- Show natural daylight and dusk/dawn transitions
- Interior torch-lit or campfire scenes demonstrate range
- UE5 Lumen GI knowledge is increasingly required
- Include underwater lighting if you have relevant work
Crystal Dynamics is in an active hiring phase for the new Tomb Raider
The UE5 Tomb Raider project is Crystal Dynamics’ primary focus. Roles are opening as production ramps. The studio has navigated several ownership transitions (previously Square Enix, now Embracer Group) and experienced layoffs in 2024 as part of Embracer restructuring. Current hiring is rebuild and growth focused. Confirm production stability with your recruiter before accepting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crystal Dynamics still making Tomb Raider?
Yes. Crystal Dynamics is developing a new Tomb Raider title on Unreal Engine 5, published by Amazon Games. This project is their primary production focus and the main driver of current hiring.
Did Crystal Dynamics have layoffs?
Yes. Crystal Dynamics was part of Embracer Group’s 2023-2024 restructuring, which included layoffs. The studio has since been rebuilding its team for the new Tomb Raider project.
Does Crystal Dynamics hire remotely?
Crystal Dynamics has offered some hybrid arrangements for senior roles. Core production roles are generally Redwood City-based. Check individual role descriptions carefully as policies vary by discipline.
What engine is the new Tomb Raider using?
Unreal Engine 5. This is a significant change from the proprietary Foundation engine used in the trilogy. Artists with UE5 Nanite and Lumen experience are at an advantage for current openings.
Does Crystal Dynamics sponsor H-1B visas?
Embracer Group studios have supported H-1B applications for senior hires. As a California studio, Crystal Dynamics falls under standard US work authorization processes. Confirm sponsorship availability with the recruiter for your specific role.
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