A brand new The Lord of the Rings game is in development, and has been for some time.
Sources close to the game tell Insider Gaming that a new title is set to be, at least partially, funded by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). This funding should roughly equate to $100 million, give or take.
UPDATE OCT. 20: Insider Gaming has learned that the deal with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office has been signed. It’s currently unclear if or when a public announcement will be made.
The deal has been in the works since last year, and, while not signed yet due to the number of moving parts, is said to be made official “soon” and could happen as early as next week. Regarding current funding of the game’s development, it has been funded internally.
As far as what the game will be, sources didn’t want to say too much. What was said, however, is that it will be a third-person action game that is designed, in a way, to “compete with Hogwarts Legacy.”
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In addition to the ADIO, it was said that multiple parties are involved with the game, including Embracer, Revenge, and other studios. Embracer has had the rights to The Lord of the Rings IP for video games since 2022, when it paid nearly $400 million. It has since licensed out those rights to other companies to produce titles, including the much-maligned The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
When contacted for a statement, Embracer says that “a general rule, we do not comment on rumors or speculation.” Revenge, one studio said to be involved with the game, also declined to comment on “rumor and speculation”.
What do you think of a new The Lord of the Rings game and do you think a third-person action game is the right way to go? Let us know down in the comments below, and join the newly relaunched Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Editor’s Note: Story was edited for clarity about current funding.
Not the Saudi’s they own a stake in Embracer? Don’t see the point in LOTR game now. Maybe Abu Dhabi buys Embracer out since they need a buyout.
If it’s truly in the vein of Harry Potter and doesn’t have microtransactions and live service garbage, I’m all the way in. LOTR has been in dire need of an open world rpg for decades and nobody has delivered.
Any game that is a open world game and it is lotr and is like world of Warcraft has me wanting it right now I’ve been playing wow for 20 years and they don’t have anyone that I can talk to to get my. Account from 20 years ago running again and also they won’t help with a bug and can’t play the new content is sad