Eidos-Montréal's cancelled "Telltale-like" Lord of the Rings game, titled Tales of Umbar, has surfaced with early images and concept art. The project didn't advance far before being scrapped, joining a list of unfulfilled games by the studio, including the Legacy of Kain reboot. Allegedly, the game aimed to explore the Umbar region of Middle-earth and would have utilized card-based mechanics alongside a Telltale-esque narrative. Recently, the studio has refocused efforts on an ambitious open-world title, potentially linked to the rumored Alien game. This cancellation highlights the unpredictable nature of game development in the industry.

What can we learn from the cancelled Lord of the Rings game by Eidos-Montréal?

The cancelled Lord of the Rings game reveals Eidos-Montréal's innovative approach, aiming to combine card-based mechanics with a strong narrative focus, which could have drastically differed from previous titles in the franchise.

Lord of the Rings games, drawing from J.R.R. Tolkien's epic mythology, have a rich history in the gaming landscape. Previous adaptations like Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War successfully captured the essence of Middle-earth and its iconic characters, proving a continuous interest in this universe among gamers. Eidos-Montréal's unique vision might have added a fresh narrative-driven element to this well-loved franchise.