A Lord of the Rings open-world RPG is coming from the Kingdom Come: Deliverance studio

[midian182]

Something to look forward to: Great news for fans of all things Tolkien-related: Warhorse Studios, the company behind the Kingdom Come series, is making a Lord of the Rings role-playing game. Moreover, fans of its medieval-simulator franchise will rejoice to learn that another Kingdom Come game is also in the works.

In a post on its official X account, Warhorse Studios revealed that rumors it is working on new Middle-earth and Kingdom Come games were true. The studio said it would reveal more details "when the time is right." The only thing we know about the LotR game right now is that it's an open-world RPG.

– Warhorse Studios (@WarhorseStudios) May 20, 2026

The last Lord of the Rings-based game was Tales of the Shire, a kid-friendly life-sim title from Wētā Workshop. Before that, there was the survival-crafting adventure The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria in 2023, the same year that the much-maligned The Lord of the Rings: Gollum came out.

The idea of what could essentially be Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 set in the fantasy world of Middle-earth sounds very compelling. No word yet on when we might get to play it, though.

Warhorse also confirmed a new Kingdom Come adventure is in development. This will presumably be Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3, but it could also be a spinoff of the main series.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was hailed as a masterpiece when it launched in 2025. It even ranked seventh place on BAFTA's list of most influential games of all time last year. An impressive feat, given that it had only been out for two months at the time. It looks like the franchise will be joining Broken Sword on the list of movie adaptations, too.

Back in the summer of 2022, Warhorse Studios' parent, the Swedish media holding giant Embracer Group, acquired Middle-earth Enterprises from The Saul Zaentz Company, granting it IP rights to Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit that cover everything from movies, TV shows, video games, merchandising, and board games to stage plays and even theme-park rights.

This week saw Embracer Group announce that it planned to separate into two publicly listed companies, with most of its major IPs being taken by the aptly named spinoff Fellowship Entertainment.

In addition to Lord of the Rings, the other IPs held by Fellowship Entertainment include The Hobbit, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Metro, Tomb Raider, Darksiders, Dead Island, Remnant, and many more.

Embracer also said it will be more actively exploring external partnerships around well-known IPs such as Saints Row, Legacy of Kain, Deus Ex, Red Faction, The Mask, Thief, and TimeSplitters.

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A Lord of the Rings open-world RPG is coming from the Kingdom Come: Deliverance studio

 

[Rapob]

If the combat system is as bad as KCD, it will be an easy skip. I played both games, for several hours but the combat was a dealbreaker. Much worse than Bethesda RPG combat. So clunky and random.

 

[FaTaL]

They'll do a better job than Amazon games would have....thats a guarantee. (MMO or not)

 

[J95qRP7]

KCD1 has an over 80% on steam. KDC2 has an over 90% on steam. If they can combine what people love about their KCD games, with what people love about LotR, then it seems like they could be in for a real success. It reminds me of Larian and how they developed the Divinity games but it wasn't until Baldurs Gate 3, that made them into a "mainstream" name. Perhaps this LotR game will do the same to Warhorse Studios, or perhaps tank it, if it goes badly. I hope for the former.

As someone who loved the Peter Jackson movies, especially the extended Blu-ray versions, who has been to Hobbiton in New Zealand and wears a One Ring replicate every day, I hope it goes well for Warhorse.

 

[Neatfeatguy]

If the combat system is as bad as KCD, it will be an easy skip. I played both games, for several hours but the combat was a dealbreaker. Much worse than Bethesda RPG combat. So clunky and random.

I picked up the first game some time ago for $10, give or take, because there was such praise for it and after about an hour into the game I thought maybe I was doing something wrong because combat felt awkward. Maybe it was because I'm just starting the game and it could improve as I played more.....but I didn't really find anything about the game that impressive to make me want to keep playing.

I have more fun with combat in Mount & Blade that came out almost 20 years ago than whatever it was that I encountered in Kingdom Come Deliverance.

 

[Rapob]

I picked up the first game some time ago for $10, give or take, because there was such praise for it and after about an hour into the game I thought maybe I was doing something wrong because combat felt awkward. Maybe it was because I'm just starting the game and it could improve as I played more.....but I didn't really find anything about the game that impressive to make me want to keep playing.

I have more fun with combat in Mount & Blade that came out almost 20 years ago than whatever it was that I encountered in Kingdom Come Deliverance.

M&B was great. Yes.

KCD 2 started well but combat had me running away after 2 hours. I don't understand how anyone can enjoy clunky combat. The lack of magic sucks too.

 

[NumberNine]

I don't understand how anyone can enjoy clunky combat. The lack of magic sucks too.

My review of real life.

 

[m4a4]

Meh, not very excited.

At least, not with some of the design decisions they made with both KC's (like the obtuse saving mechanics that made me lose hours of progress).
And with the direction that whoever is controlling the IP went with RoP.