Aisaka Taiga
- The Kingdom Come studio confirms two new projects, including an open-world Lord of the Rings RPG that’s already raising big expectations.
- It opens up a lot of possibilities.
The Kingdom Come studio confirms two new projects, including an open-world Lord of the Rings RPG that’s already raising big expectations.
Middle-earth is calling again — and this time, a studio known for muddy roads, grounded storytelling, and slow-burn RPGs is answering. Warhorse Studios has officially revealed that it is developing an open-world RPG set in the world of The Lord of the Rings.
The announcement came as part of updates shared around parent company Embracer Group and its latest business reports, but it quickly became one of the most talked-about reveals.
Warhorse also confirmed that a second project is in the works: a brand-new adventure set in its Kingdom Come universe, following the success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. For a studio that built its name on realistic medieval worlds, moving into Middle-earth feels like a bold next chapter.
Warhorse Games are usually known for making players feel like they’re living inside history rather than starring in a fantasy epic. Their worlds reward patience, detail, and immersion. That’s exactly why this announcement stands out. Instead of staying in familiar territory, the studio is stepping into one of the biggest fantasy universes ever created.
It opens up a lot of possibilities.
Middle-earth gives developers something history can’t: legendary landscapes, ancient mysteries, larger-than-life characters, and endless room for imagination. If Warhorse brings its attention to detail into that kind of setting, the result could feel very different from traditional fantasy RPGs.
The project is being developed as an open-world experience, though no gameplay details, setting, or release window have been shared yet. That leaves fans with one big question: what kind of Lord of the Rings game will this actually be?
Will it keep the slower, more immersive style Warhorse is known for? Or will it lean into action and spectacle to match the scale of Middle-earth? The timing makes the project even more interesting.
While The Lord of the Rings remains one of the most recognizable fantasy worlds in entertainment, standout game releases tied to the franchise have been surprisingly rare in recent years.
Games like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War left a strong impression and built loyal audiences, but fans have been waiting for another major RPG-style experience in that universe.
Warhorse now finds itself in a position few studios get — combining proven RPG experience with one of the most beloved fantasy settings ever made. Of course, there’s still a long road ahead.
A great idea does not automatically become a great game, and expectations for anything connected to Middle-earth tend to be sky high. Still, this feels like one of those announcements that instantly gets people imagining what could be.
A studio known for building believable worlds is now getting access to one of fiction’s most legendary ones. The only question now is: when Warhorse finally opens the gates to Middle-earth, will players find their next obsession waiting on the other side?
