Warhorse Studios, best known for the historically grounded RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its sequel, has officially announced its next project: an open-world The Lord of the Rings RPG set in Middle-earth. The reveal positions the Czech developer at the center of one of fantasy’s most enduring universes, with expectations already forming around how its realism-driven design philosophy will translate into a mythic setting.

Early details point to a project that favors immersion and systemic storytelling over spectacle, aligning closely with the studio’s established identity. For fans of Tolkien and role-playing depth alike, the announcement signals a potentially defining entry in the franchise’s gaming history. The studio’s Instagram post confirmed what had been circulating for months as rumors, revealing a teaser map of Middle-earth that includes key regions such as Mordor.

Warhorse framed the project as a long-held ambition, emphasizing the chance to reimagine Tolkien’s world through dense environmental storytelling and player-driven exploration. The scope suggested by the map alone hints at a game built around traversal, discovery, and layered narratives. At the core of the pitch is the same design DNA that powered Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Rumors, as reported by VICE, place the budget at around $100 million, a figure that, if accurate, reflects the scale of ambition behind the project. While no release window has been confirmed, the announcement functions as an early statement of intent. It points toward a narrative-dense experience that prioritizes detail, consequence, and player agency over formulaic franchise beats.

But the gaming world is not the only place where Middle-earth is expanding its footprint.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sets the stage for a larger franchise push

Amazon has locked in a fall release for the third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, setting November 11 as the global premiere date on Prime Video. The announcement reinforces the series as a cornerstone of the platform’s global strategy. Season 1 remains its biggest premiere, while Season 2 sustained strong placement on streaming charts, signaling consistent audience engagement.

Season 3 moves the timeline forward by several years, landing at a critical turning point in the War of the Elves and Sauron. The narrative centers on the Dark Lord’s push to forge the One Ring, tightening control over Middle-earth while resistance builds across multiple fronts. This shift promises a more focused, high-stakes storyline that draws together previously scattered arcs.

Key regions such as Númenor and Lindon will again anchor the story, alongside expanding threads across the wider world. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay continue to steer the series, framing this chapter as a convergence point for its long-form storytelling. The result is a franchise that is evolving across both gaming and television, each medium reinforcing the other’s scale and ambition.

What do you think about Warhorse Studios taking on Middle-earth in an open-world RPG format? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Pratham Gurung

Edited by

Itti Mahajan