A new Lord of the Rings game is in development and is a third-person action game designed to “compete with Hogwarts Legacy,” according to a new report.
Insider Gaming stated it heard from sources close to the project that the unannounced and untitled game is funded, in part, by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), to the tune of around $100 million USD. A deal could be made public as soon as next week, the report indicated.
In addition to ADIO, the rumored new Lord of the Rings game is said to involve Embracer, the company that owns the rights to Lord of the Rings games and other extensions of the fantasy series. The developer Revenge is also reportedly involved.
A spokesperson for Embracer commented, “We do not comment on rumors or speculation.” Developer Revenge also declined to comment when approached by Insider Gaming.
The report provided no specific details on the supposed new Lord of the Rings game, so it’s unclear at this stage what it means that the game could be designed to compete with Hogwarts Legacy. That game, released in 2023, was an enormous success, becoming the No. 1 best-selling game of the year in the US. A sequel is now a top priority at Warner Bros.
As for The Lord of the Rings, games based on the franchise have not fared all that well recently. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum had such a troubled launch in 2023 that its developer canceled its next game and ceased making games altogether. This year’s Tales of the Shire received mixed reviews.
The existence of a new Lord of the Rings game from Embracer is no surprise, as the company said more than a year ago that it was prototyping multiple new games. Prior to this, Embracer’s Lord of the Rings boss, Lee Guinchard, spoke about his desire for a renaissance for Lord of the Rings games.
In addition to this mysterious new project, Embracer is currently collaborating with Amazon Games on a new MMO set in the Middle-earth universe.
There have been many iconic Lord of the Rings games over the years. In particular, some of the early movie tie-ins were well-received, while the more recent Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War were enjoyable, though their developer, Monolith, has since shut down. On the lighter side, Lego Lord of the Rings and Lego The Hobbit titles are also fondly remembered. Check out the list below for some of the best Lord of the Rings games ever.
The Best Lord Of The Rings Games
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Lego Lord of the Rings
- The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
- The Lord of the Rings Online
Beyond video games, Embracer is working with Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on multiple upcoming films, including The Hunt for Gollum. Andy Serkis, who famously played Gollum in Peter Jackson’s original The Lord of the Rings series, is returning to direct this film.