According to recent reports, an ambitious Lord of the Rings game is in development that is set to rival the success of Hogwarts Legacy.
Based on information from Insider Gaming, which cites sources close to the developers, work has been underway for some time on a new major title set in the universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. Specifically, it is said to be a third-person action game whose stated goal is apparently to “compete with Hogwarts Legacy.”
Although not yet officially announced, rumors point to a project with a substantial budget and big ambitions.
What we know about the new game
The most important information is the direct comparison with Hogwarts Legacy: At least, that allows us to draw conclusions about the possible scope and direction of the game.
A title that wants to play in this league is likely to offer a large, freely explorable game world in which you can experience your own story in Middle-earth. Instead of retracing the familiar paths of the Fellowship, you could, similar to the wizard role-playing game, create your own character and guide them through a previously untold story.
The genre is becoming more concrete: Sources speak of a third-person action game. Whether this will be more like an action adventure such as God of War or an action role-playing game such as The Witcher 3 is still unclear. However, the Hogwarts Legacy comparison suggests that role-playing elements are likely to play a central role.
Who is behind the project?
The game’s development is currently being funded internally by Embracer, but a massive cash injection appears to be imminent. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is reportedly planning to invest around $100 million in the project. According to Insider Gaming, this deal has been in the works since last year and could be officially signed as early as next week.
Several names are mentioned as parties involved, including rights holder Embracer Group and studio Revenge. Embracer secured the rights to The Lord of the Rings brand for video games in 2022 for nearly $400 million.
Since then, the company has granted licenses to other studios, which led to, among other things, the complete disaster that was The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. However, the fact that such a large project is now in the pipeline shows that Embracer continues to have big plans for Middle-earth.