14 DAY TRIAL // November 21st, 2007 has been confirmed as the date when the renowned video game developer Eidos Interactive filed the "Tomb Raider Underworld" trademark, presumably in relation to a video game. Since Eidos doesn't handle other things except video games and especially the Tomb Raider franchise, we think it's fair to say that Tomb Raider 8 is going to be called Underworld.
According to blokes over at Trademork, the game's storyline is rumored to be based around the Mayan Calendar, called Wayeb. The calendar features five nameless days at the end of the year. Why are they unnamed? Because the Maya believed that during these five wretched days all hell would break loose, as the gates/portals "between the mortal realm and the Underworld dissolve," freeing malicious gods that have been put to sleep in there since... well, long ago. Kind of like Pandora's Box only that it's in the Maya's vision. According to the same source, "during this time, the realm of the living and dead was said to blur, leading us to only one, inevitable plotline in the game: giant ghost/zombie jubblies."
So what do you think? Does the plot sound Tomb Raider-ish enough to be a valid one? As a fan of the series, I'd say it does. The Maya's culture is something we've encountered earlier in the series, while "giant ghost/zombie jubblies" are Lara's favorite targets. Well, that and tigers.
Crystal Dynamics has been handling the development of the latest Tomb Raider installments, Anniversary and Legend, and so we can expect some official word on this rumor on their behalf as well, within the month - presumably before the beginning of 2008, so Tomb Raider fans have something to look forward to when popping the champagne.
Be sure to hear it from us first if more details surrounding Tomb Raider Underworld (whether it's a new game or something else) are disclosed by either company involved with the franchise.