A promising new rumor has surfaced that could excite fans of Tolkien’s Middle-earth. According to a well-placed industry source, Warhorse Studios is reportedly leading development on the upcoming open-world Lord of the Rings RPG.
The information comes from Polish gaming veteran Ryszard Chojnowski, who shared on a recent podcast that credible sources have confirmed Warhorse’s involvement. The news quickly spread across forums including Reddit and ResetEra, generating strong positive reactions from the community.
Embracer Group currently holds the Lord of the Rings gaming rights. In 2025, the United Arab Emirates invested $100 million into a new open-world RPG set in Tolkien’s universe. While official details have remained scarce until now, this latest leak provides the clearest picture yet of who is actually building the game.
Warhorse Studios, best known for the critically acclaimed Kingdom Come: Deliverance series, would represent a thoughtful choice. The Czech studio has built a reputation for creating richly detailed medieval worlds filled with meaningful choices, strong storytelling, and impressive attention to everyday life in historical settings.
Many fans see clear parallels between Kingdom Come: Deliverance and what a Lord of the Rings game could be. Both KCD games are praised for their grounded approach to role-playing, believable characters, and meticulously crafted environments.
The studio’s focus on immersive simulation, deep dialogue systems, and realistic world-building could translate beautifully to exploring the Shire, navigating the Misty Mountains, or surviving encounters in dangerous wilds. A slower, more story-driven open-world experience would stand in welcome contrast to many modern action-heavy fantasy titles.
While the rumor has been met with enthusiasm, it is not without concerns. Warhorse recently faced criticism for replacing a human translator with AI on one of their projects. Some fans worry how this philosophy might affect writing and localization quality in a project as dialogue-heavy and lore-sensitive as a Lord of the Rings game.
There is also the reality that no official announcement has been made. Until Embracer Group or Warhorse Studios confirm the report, it remains a credible leak rather than confirmed fact. However, the specificity of the information and the source’s track record have lent it significant weight in industry circles.
Should the project indeed be in Warhorse’s hands, expectations are high for a respectful adaptation that captures the spirit of Tolkien’s work. Players want to feel the weight of Middle-earth through rich environmental storytelling, meaningful faction interactions, and a world that feels alive rather than simply large.
After years of relative quiet on the Lord of the Rings gaming front, with the notable exception of the well-received Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War games, fans are eager for something substantial. A high-quality open-world RPG from a studio known for substance over spectacle could be exactly what the license needs.
The project still appears to be early enough in development that a reveal or release window may be some time away. Even so, today’s leak has already rekindled excitement and discussion around what is possible when the right studio meets one of fantasy’s most beloved settings.
If Warhorse Studios is indeed at the helm, Lord of the Rings fans have genuine reason for optimism. A game built with the same care and attention to detail found in Kingdom Come: Deliverance could become one of the most anticipated RPGs in development.
Stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates on the project and other video game and video game related news.