The Lord of the Rings remains a dominant force in fantasy media, captivating millions with its rich universe across films, television, and games. While fans eagerly await new content, the gaming front has been relatively quiet since the success of Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War.

Confirmation exists that a new major title is in development, but specific details regarding its scope and development team have remained scarce. Recent leaks, however, suggest highly exciting news regarding the studio taking on this massive project.

The Mystery Behind the Lord of the Rings Open-World RPG

It was previously reported in 2025 that the UAE had injected $100 million into a new Lord of the Rings open-world role-playing game through the Embracer Group, which currently manages the rights.

A recent Reddit post shared information stemming from Polish industry veteran Ryszard Chojnowski. During a podcast appearance, Chojnowski stated that credible sources informed him the studio attached to the project is Warhorse Studios.

Why Warhorse Studios is Considered an Ideal Match

Warhorse Studios is renowned for creating the Kingdom Come: Deliverance duology. These games are highly regarded within the industry for their strong emphasis on narrative and immersive world-building.

The medieval setting and the style of high fantasy utilized in Kingdom Come align naturally with the aesthetic of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. This perceived synergy has generated significant excitement among fans.

Fan reactions on the post reflected this enthusiasm. One commenter noted, "Almost a perfect fit… Walking around the landscapes and the detail in KCD games is hard to surpass. I can only imagine what they could do with Tolkien…"

Another fan added, "God I hope so. Middle earth with the amount of detail they put into their games would be a dream come true."

Potential Concerns and Studio Capabilities

Despite the positive outlook, some concerns temper the excitement. A recent development involving the studio firing a translator in favor of using AI was cited as a notable caveat.

Nevertheless, the core competency of Warhorse Studios to execute a large-scale Lord of the Rings game is evident based on their previous work. The hope remains that they, or an equally skilled studio, are leading the development effort.

Key Figures and Lore Context

The Lord of the Rings franchise, created by J.R.R. Tolkien, encompasses numerous films and the television series The Rings of Power.

Key characters central to the lore include Frodo Baggins, portrayed by Elijah Wood in the films, alongside figures like Gandalf, Aragorn, Galadriel, and Sauron.