Warhorse Studios Confirms a Lord of the Rings RPG

The Kingdom Come: Deliverance developer has officially announced a new game set in the Lord of the Rings universe, calling it an open world Middle‑earth RPG. This announcement follows months of speculation and promises a fresh entry into Tolkien’s world that will echo the immersive, historically grounded style fans love from the Kingdom Come series.

Game Vision and Development

During a recent community stream, Warhorse Communications Director Tobias Stolz‑Zwilling shared that the next Kingdom Come title will launch next fiscal year—roughly a year away—while the Lord of the Rings game has no fixed release window yet, suggesting it could be several years before players step into its world.

The Middle‑earth project is led by Viktor Bocan, the design director on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Stolz‑Zwilling described the title as a "passion project" with a "mind‑blowing team" ready to dive deep into the universe. He emphasized that the game will be deeply immersive, featuring a living world full of interesting characters, memorable places, and a strong narrative focus.

“It’s important to remind everyone we are only working on the games we want to work on in the way we want to work on them,” Stolz‑Zwilling said.
“It’s our stuff.”
“That stands us a bit apart a little bit… without s**t‑talking anyone… only a little bit! Stands us a bit apart from maybe other big studios. As long as we have this power and trust I think we will absolutely rock.”

With this vision, Warhorse aims to become the “new kings” of the RPG genre, leveraging the studio’s proven formula that fans adore.

Key Features to Watch For

  • Expansive open world that mirrors the scale of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films
  • Authentic lore integration with Tolkien’s original texts
  • Dynamic combat and skill trees reminiscent of Kingdom Come’s realistic mechanics
  • Narrative depth that places player choices at the center of the story

Context and Market Position

While titles like Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War have dominated the action‑adventure segment, they never delivered the expansive, role‑playing experience fans have long craved. Warhorse’s new project seeks to fill that void, creating a true RPG experience in Middle‑earth.

The franchise’s current resurgence—highlighted by upcoming live‑action projects such as The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum—provides a timely backdrop. Though the game is unlikely to coincide with the film’s release, the renewed interest may offer additional synergy opportunities as the development progresses.

Warhorse’s commitment to crafting a genuinely immersive Middle‑earth RPG marks a bold step forward for the industry and promises an exciting new chapter in the realm of open‑world storytelling.