A brand-new game set in the epic world of Lord of the Rings is reportedly in active development. This upcoming third-person action title is rumored to be designed with the intention of directly competing with the incredibly successful 2023 release, Hogwarts Legacy.
According to insider reports, this unannounced project is partially backed by a substantial investment of approximately $100 million USD from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). While a formal announcement could come as early as next week, the exact timing remains unconfirmed.
The new Lord of the Rings game is also said to involve Embracer, the company that holds extensive rights to the fantasy series, alongside developer Revenge. Both Embracer and Revenge have chosen not to comment on the speculation.
While specific details about the game are scarce, its rumored ambition to rival Hogwarts Legacy is noteworthy. Hogwarts Legacy achieved massive commercial success in 2023, becoming the year’s best-selling game in the US, prompting Warner Bros. to prioritize a sequel.
The Lord of the Rings gaming franchise has recently faced challenges. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum suffered a disastrous launch in 2023, leading its developer to cease game production entirely. Additionally, this year’s Tales of the Shire received a lukewarm reception.
However, the prospect of new Lord of the Rings games from Embracer isn’t surprising. The company previously confirmed it was prototyping multiple new titles, with Embracer’s Lord of the Rings boss, Lee Guinchard, expressing a desire for a ‘renaissance’ in the franchise’s gaming presence. Beyond this mystery project, Embracer is also collaborating with Amazon Games on a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game set in Middle-earth.
Over the years, the Lord of the Rings universe has inspired many memorable games. Early movie tie-ins were often well-received, and more recent titles like Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War also found a dedicated audience before developer Monolith’s closure. Lighter, more family-friendly experiences like Lego Lord of the Rings and Lego The Hobbit are also fondly remembered.
In addition to video games, Embracer is actively developing multiple films with Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, including ‘The Hunt for Gollum’, with Andy Serkis reprising his role as Gollum and directing the feature.
