Warhorse Studios confirms development of open-world Lord of the Rings RPG

Warhorse Studios has officially confirmed that it is working on a new game in the Lord of the Rings universe, alongside a new title in the Kingdom Come series. The announcement, made on 20 May 2026, promises an open-world RPG set in Middle-earth , with more details expected in the future.

Development information

The developer has shared few details, but it has confirmed that the game is focused on delivering a rich open-world experience. That is especially notable given the recent run of less successful Lord of the Rings games, such as Gollum , which has raised expectations for this project.

Embracer Group and the rights to Middle-earth

Embracer Group , Warhorse Studios' parent company, acquired the rights to create new games, films, and other media based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in 2022, after taking over Middle-earth Enterprises from The Saul Zaentz Company . That acquisition led to the creation of Fellowship Entertainment , a new unit within Embracer focused on exploring external partnerships for its IPs, including the beloved Lord of the Rings franchise.

What can we expect?

Inspired by the successful formula of Kingdom Come: Deliverance , Warhorse will likely aim to take a similar approach with this RPG. The studio has proven itself with its attention to historical accuracy and story-driven gameplay, which could result in a unique take on the Lord of the Rings universe.

It is important to note that the former game director of the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series, Daniel Vávra , has stepped away to focus on a film adaptation of the franchise. That means it is unclear who will lead the new project creatively.

Despite the uncertainty, anticipation for the open-world RPG remains high, especially given Warhorse's previous success and Embracer's recent interest in revitalizing the Lord of the Rings franchise. The combination of fantasy elements with the established gameplay structure of Kingdom Come could lead to an intriguing new addition to the role-playing genre.

Warhorse Studios has said it will reveal more information at a later date, and the gaming community is eagerly waiting to see what this new addition to the Lord of the Rings saga will bring.