The retailer quote-tweeted a promotional image shared by IGN, simply stating, “This is not Lara Croft,” which quickly drew accusations of unnecessary negativity and sparked debates over casting in video game adaptations. As the post racked up millions of views, it highlighted ongoing tensions in the Tomb Raider franchise, from recent “wokeness” claims to broader fan divides.
Here’s the TL;DR…
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GameStop’s X post criticizing Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft look went viral, earning backlash for seeming out of touch.
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The incident ties into larger Tomb Raider controversies, including canceled projects accused of pushing anti-colonial themes.
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Fans defended Turner, pointing to her resemblance to classic Croft designs, while others mocked GameStop’s retail woes.
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This fits GameStop’s pattern of cheeky social media jabs, often self-deprecating or aimed at gaming trends.
What sparked GameStop’s controversial comment on the Tomb Raider series?
GameStop’s official X account reposted IGN’s January 15, 2026, reveal of Sophie Turner in Lara Croft gear, adding the terse caption that questioned her fit for the role. The image showed Turner in tactical attire, evoking the character’s adventurer style from the games. By January 20, the post had amassed over 18 million views, 30,000 likes, and thousands of replies, many slamming the retailer for meddling in casting decisions.
Why are fans accusing the Tomb Raider franchise of wokeness lately?
Recent Tomb Raider projects have faced pushback for perceived progressive shifts. In June 2025, the tabletop RPG Tomb Raider: Shadows of Truth was canceled after backlash over its focus on critiquing colonialism and tomb raiding as unethical acts. Gamers labeled it “woke activism” in videos and forums, arguing it strayed from the series’ core thrill of exploration.
One YouTube creator noted in a widely viewed clip, “This isn’t Tomb Raider; it’s a lecture on why raiding tombs is bad.” The game’s developers, tied to Crystal Dynamics, aimed to “apologize for colonialist origins,” but fan outrage led to its shelving.
How has censorship affected Tomb Raider re-releases?
The 2024 remastered trilogy of the original Tomb Raider games included content warnings for “offensive depictions of people and cultures rooted in racial and ethnic prejudices.” This move drew ire on platforms like Steam and Reddit, where users claimed it imposed modern sensitivities on 1990s games.
Some accused developers of a “woke mind virus,” pointing to minor changes like altering med pack symbols to avoid Red Cross lawsuits. Discussions on NeoGAF and YouTube highlighted fears of broader censorship, with one playlist compiling “Tomb Raider Remastered Censorship Controversies” amassing thousands of views. Lara Croft’s character design in re-releases also sparked debates, as fans noted subtle tweaks to tone down exaggerated features from early games.
What does Sophie Turner’s casting mean for the Tomb Raider reboot?
Turner, best known as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, steps into Lara Croft’s boots for Prime Video’s live-action series, greenlit in May 2024. She joins a lineage that includes Angelina Jolie’s 2001 film version and Alicia Vikander’s 2018 take.
Turner expressed enthusiasm in a statement: “I’ve been a long-time fan of Tomb Raider and the character of Lara. She has always felt for me, very emboldened in a male-dominated world. She’s a fierce female role model.”
Showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who co-runs the project with Chad Hodge, praised the cast, saying: “Tomb Raider boasts a plethora of iconic characters. I am thrilled to have been able to bring some personal and fan favorites to the screen while also introducing a few new rascals of our own to the mix.”
Filming started in January 2026, with no confirmed release date, though late-2026 speculation circulates.
How did the internet react to GameStop’s roast of the casting?
Responses flooded in, with many users defending Turner by comparing her look to Croft’s 1990s iterations. One viral reply from artist Sean Gause read, “Why is GameStop incelposting,” gaining hundreds of thousands of views.
Others turned the tables, mocking GameStop’s stores with images of Funko Pop figures captioned, “This is not a gaming store.” YouTuber Cody Leach joined the fray, amplifying the sentiment.
Not all sided against GameStop; some agreed Turner didn’t capture Croft’s essence, echoing complaints from subreddits like r/TombRaider.
What other examples show GameStop’s social media trolling style?
GameStop’s X account often leans into humor, sometimes at its own expense. In January 2026, it replied to a post about a collector’s full Xbox 360 library—valued at $20,000—with “$4 in store credit,” poking fun at its trade-in reputation and earning 297,000 likes.
Another post from January 11 featured hidden images under a “greatest game of all time” tease, baiting clicks. In December 2025, GameStop swiped at Best Buy by hiring an actress from their ads and boasting about it. Earlier, a 2025 PSN outage prompted a jab that backfired with user clapbacks. These posts blend self-awareness with edginess, boosting engagement but occasionally stirring controversy.
How has the Tomb Raider franchise evolved amid these debates?
Since its 1996 debut, Tomb Raider has sold over 95 million copies, evolving from pixelated adventures to reboots emphasizing survival. The 2013 trilogy shifted Croft from a glamorous raider to a grounded survivor, drawing praise for depth but criticism for toning down her sexuality.
Recent reports, like a 2024 industry study on “woke characters,” noted fan fatigue with forced diversity, though Tomb Raider’s core appeal remains its action. Amazon’s series aims to blend nostalgia with fresh storytelling, featuring stars like Sigourney Weaver and Jason Isaacs.
GameStop’s swipe at Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft underscores the tricky balance in adapting beloved games, where fan expectations clash with modern updates. As Tomb Raider pushes forward with its Prime Video debut, these debates could shape how franchises handle heritage versus innovation. For gamers, it serves as a reminder: change invites scrutiny, but strong storytelling might win out in the end.
Hat Tips
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Newsweek, “GameStop’s Reaction to Sophie Turner as Lara Croft Sparks Backlash,” January 16, 2026
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ComicBookMovie.com, “TOMB RAIDER: GameStop Rejects Sophie Turner’s Take On Lara Croft,” January 19, 2026
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GeekTyrant, “GameStop Under Fire for Comment on Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft in TOMB RAIDER Series,” January 20, 2026
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YouTube, “Woke Tomb Raider Cancellation LAUGHED AT By Gamers,” June 22, 2025
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YouTube, “Tomb Raider CANCELED, Modern Audience TTRPG Shadows Of Truth Made By Activists Gets Shelved,” June 21, 2025
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Reddit, r/SubredditDrama, “The original Tomb Raider games get rereleased with a content warning,” February 15, 2024
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YouTube, “MASSIVE Report Proves Why Nobody Likes Woke Characters + Tomb Raider Remaster is RACIST,” February 14, 2024
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The Guardian, “Anarchy, in-jokes and trolling: the GameStop fiasco is 4chan-think in action,” January 28, 2021
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Dexerto on X, post about Xbox 360 collection, January 7, 2026
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GameStop on X, various trolling posts from January 2026
Article Compiled and Edited by Derek Gibbs on January 21, 2026 for Clownfish TV D/REZZED.
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