Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light announced, digi download this year [Update]

Update: Square's refused to be drawn on the reasoning for dropping "Tomb Raider" from the game's title, saying only, "The press release is the only information we're giving out at the moment."

Original: Square just announced the next Lara game, dubbed Guardian of Light. Note the lack of the words "Tomb Raider" in the press release.

The title is going to be a download, according to the press release, and will release later this year.

No platforms have been given on the game, by developer Crystal Dynamics has promised the IPs latest adventure will be "different".

“This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting,” said Darrell Gallagher, Crystal Dynamics boss.

“Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience.”

It's to be shown behind closed doors at GDC next week.

The game's official site is now up.

Full announcement below.

CRYSTAL DYNAMICS ANNOUNCES NEW LARA CROFT™ ADVENTURE
LARA CROFT AND THE GUARDIAN OF LIGHT™

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 4, 2010 – Crystal Dynamics™, a part of Square Enix Europe, today announced Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light™, a new game developed by Crystal Dynamics, which will be released via digital download in 2010.

“This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting,” said Darrell Gallagher, General Manager of Crystal Dynamics. “Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience.”

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will be shown strictly “behind closed doors” at this year’s Game Developers Conference beginning on March 9th. Please contact Rob Fleischer at Sandbox Strategies (rob@sandboxstrat.com) for more information.

Crystal Dynamics is an award-winning studio located in San Francisco. Founded in 1992, the studio has created and developed key game franchises such as: Legacy of Kain™, Pandemonium™, Gex™ and most recently the Tomb Raider™ series.

For more information visit www.laracroftandtheguardianoflight.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook - @Crystaldynamics – Facebook.com/LaraCroft