So it has come to this. Seemingly prepared to do anything to revive the ailing Tomb Raider series, it seems that Eidos will be introducing a brand new playable character with the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC, introducing the first non-Lara Croft hero to the series for the first time in history. In a manner of speaking.

This "new" character is actually a clone of Lara Croft, who has jumped the shark with "superior shadow powers, increased agility" and the "ability to slow time to unleash devastating melee combos". Allow your eyebrows to raise at any time. 

The new DLC, Lara's Shadow, is an Xbox 360 exclusive and will be released on March 10. 

This is interesting to me because it possibly hints at the future of the Tomb Raider series. Eidos has already talked about a dramatic reboot for the franchise in a bid to keep it relevant. Could a part of that reboot be so dramatic as to take out Lara herself? At this point, I wouldn't cross it out, even if Eidos takes the easy route by providing us with a clone who looks exactly the same.

Crystal Dynamics go on record about allowing gamers to play as an entirely new character for the first time in the history of the Tomb Raider franchise

 

Thursday 5th March ...Pushing the boundaries of the Tomb Raider franchise to its limits with the second downloadable content pack exclusive to Xbox Live, Crystal Dynamics talks openly in its latest developer diary about the challenges and triumphs of its latest endeavour.

Stepping into the shoes of the Doppleganger, a clone of Lara Croft, you'll get to witness first hand her superier shadow powers, increased agility and use her ability to slow time to unleash devastating melee combos.