Warhorse confirms open-world Middle-earth RPG
Warhorse’s new Middle-earth and Kingdom Come projects
Warhorse Studios—best known for Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2—has officially confirmed it’s working on an open-world RPG set in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, built for Lord of the Rings fans who want to “return” to the region. Alongside that announcement, the studio also reiterated it has a new Kingdom Come project in development.
Warhorse’s messaging frames the Middle-earth title as a major RPG effort rather than a small licensed spin-off, continuing the studio’s history of building grounded, simulation-leaning worlds—only now transported to a larger mythic setting.
Why it matters
- A new LOTR game from a studio with RPG pedigree. Warhorse’s track record gives the project a stronger RPG foundation than a typical license-based entry.
- Open-world ambition on top of a second flagship franchise. The studio is effectively running parallel development tracks: the Middle-earth RPG and a Kingdom Come adventure.
- Signals a broader strategy shift under Embracer ownership. Multiple listings connected the announcement to Embracer’s restructuring plans, suggesting Warhorse’s next steps are part of a larger portfolio realignment.
What’s still unclear
While the confirmation establishes the projects are real, the available story details don’t provide specifics on release timing, platforms, or whether the Middle-earth RPG is fully original or tied to a particular era of Tolkien’s canon. Fans will have to wait for more concrete gameplay and production updates.