Lara Croft is moving to the US

Development of the successful Tomb Raider computer game series is being transferred from Core Design, based at Pride Park, to the California-based Crystal Dynamics.

The decision was taken by Core's parent company, Eidos, and follows criticism of the latest game in the Tomb Raider series.

Eidos said it was switching developers to "enhance the value and maximise the commercial opportunity of one of its key franchises".

Earlier this month the founder of Core, Jeremy Heath-Smith, stood down from the company and Eidos.

The latest Tomb Raider Game, Angel of Darkness, did not hit stores until the first week of July, missing Eidos's financial year deadline and causing a dip in the company's share price.

Many of the game's reviews have also been below par.

Uncertain future

The future of Core's 90 staff is unknown at this stage and Eidos says it is reviewing its plans for the company.

Core referred BBC News Online queries to Eidos, which said the future of Core staff would be known "in a few weeks".

Lara Croft and Tomb Raider first appeared on computer screens in 1995.

It has become one of the most successful game franchises ever with six titles, as well as two Hollywood films starring Angelina Jolie.