Overview
- Warhorse posted on X that it is developing an open-world Middle-earth RPG and "a new Kingdom Come adventure," an announcement published Wednesday, May 20 that ended months of public rumours.
- The studio gave no release window, platform details, gameplay descriptions, or staffing information and said it will share more "when the time is right," indicating both projects are in early development.
- Embracer Group has reorganised major franchises under a newly formed company called Fellowship Entertainment which will include Warhorse and the Lord of the Rings rights, aligning the announcement with a broader corporate strategy to centralise high-value licences.
- Press reports have circulated an unconfirmed budget figure of around USD 100 million and mentions of external investment, but Warhorse has not verified those claims and they remain third-party reporting.
- Warhorse’s recent success with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and its reputation for large, detail-driven RPGs raise fan and industry expectations for quality, while the mixed track record of recent Middle-earth games means players and critics are likely to watch development closely and expect a long lead time before release.