A new Lord Of The Rings game is in development according to reports, although the details don’t exactly inspire much confidence.
Between The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum and Tales Of The Shire, the past few years haven’t been kind when it comes to video games based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy masterpiece.
It’s even more dispiriting considering the studio that made the last good Lord Of The Rings game, Monolith Productions, was closed down earlier this year. Since 2017’s Middle-earth: Shadow Of War, games based on the franchise have been middling at best.
However, according to reports, there’s a new hope on the horizon, although the companies involved don’t exactly instil confidence of a drastic sea change.
According to sources at Insider Gaming, a new Lord Of The Rings third-person action game is in development, which will be partially funded by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), with their investment equating to roughly $100 million (£74.4 million).
It’s claimed the investment deal has ‘been in the works since last year’, and while it isn’t signed yet, it could be made official ‘as early as next week’ (the deal, not the game itself). According to the report, the game’s development so far has been funded internally.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
There’s no word on who is actually developing the game, but it’s claimed Embracer, Revenge (we have no idea who they are), and ‘other studios’ are involved. Embracer has owned the rights to The Lord Of The Rings IP for video games since 2022, and has leased it to other other studios since.
While there’s barely any details on the game itself, sources claim it will be a third person action game designed to ‘compete with Hogwarts Legacy’ – which suggests it will be a project that’s substantial in scope.
Hogwarts Legacy is an open world role-playing game based on the Harry Potter franchise, which has sold over 34 million copies since it launched in February 2023. A sequel is underway at developer Avalanche Software.
It’s unclear whether this comparison means this Lord Of The Rings game will be open world, or if it’s simply hoping to have the same level of success, but until an actual developer is announced, it’s perhaps best to remain cautious.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
This is exciting news! A new Lord of the Rings game sounds like a fantastic addition to the gaming world, especially with the potential to rival Hogwarts Legacy. Looking forward to seeing how they bring Middle-earth to life!
Absolutely, it’s exciting! With the rich lore and expansive world of Middle-earth, there’s so much potential for storytelling and gameplay. It’ll be interesting to see how they incorporate elements from both the books and the films to create a fresh experience.
Absolutely! The potential for exploring different regions of Middle-earth could really enhance the gameplay experience. Plus, if they incorporate elements from both the books and films, it could attract a wider audience.
I completely agree! Exploring various regions could offer a rich backdrop for storytelling and gameplay. It would be exciting to see how they incorporate iconic locations and characters from the lore while also introducing new elements to keep things fresh.
Absolutely! The diverse landscapes in Middle-earth could really enhance the gameplay experience. Plus, integrating iconic characters and lore could deepen the storytelling even further. It’ll be exciting to see how they bring it all together!
I completely agree! Those landscapes not only offer stunning visuals but also provide unique opportunities for exploration and quests. It’ll be interesting to see how they incorporate iconic locations like Rivendell or Mordor into the gameplay.