Warhorse Studios has officially confirmed two major projects: an open-world Middle-earth RPG and a new Kingdom Come adventure. Here is everything we know so far.
Warhorse Studios confirmed on May 20, 2026, that it is developing an open-world RPG set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, alongside a new Kingdom Come adventure. The Czech studio behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, which surpassed 5 million copies sold within its first year, made the announcement via its official X account and website, ending months of speculation about its next projects.
What Did Warhorse Studios Actually Announce?
The studio’s social media post was direct but sparse on detail: “You might have heard the rumours, it’s time to reveal what we are working on. An open world Middle-earth RPG. A new Kingdom Come adventure. We’re excited to tell you more when the time is right.” No titles, platforms, release dates, or gameplay details were shared for either project.
On the studio’s website, Warhorse elaborated slightly: “Warhorse Studios is entering a new chapter. We are working on a new RPG set in Middle-earth. We have always been creating worlds full of stories that pull you in, and that’s exactly the kind of Middle-earth we will one day show you. For now, a long journey lies ahead, and we can’t wait to share more with you when the time is right.”
The announcement coincided with Embracer Group revealing plans to split into two publicly listed companies. Fellowship Entertainment will house Warhorse Studios, Crystal Dynamics, 4A Games, Middle-earth Enterprises, and over 40 other studios and companies. The restructuring ensures that both the studio and the Tolkien gaming rights remain under the same corporate umbrella.
How the Rumours Built Up Before the Reveal
The trail of leaks began in September 2025, when Insider Gaming reported that an Embracer-owned studio was developing a large-scale open-world Lord of the Rings action RPG. The report described it as a project designed to rival the commercial success of Hogwarts Legacy, with approximately $100 million in funding from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
In late March 2026, Polish industry veteran Ryszard Chojnowski claimed on a Tolkien-focused podcast that Warhorse Studios was the developer behind the project. However, Insider Gaming subsequently clarified that the specific $100 million ADIO-backed project was being led by Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider), not Warhorse. The report noted that Warhorse could still be working on a separate Middle-earth title, which is exactly what today’s confirmation appears to validate.
Earlier in May 2026, Warhorse content director Ondřej Bittner teased the studio’s future during a Reddit AMA session. When asked about a Lord of the Rings game, Bittner replied: “We cannot really disclose our future plans. But we are staying in the RPG genre!” He added that their next project would be “a huge, immersive RPG” that is “true to our colors: huge, story-driven, and immersive.”
What Makes Warhorse the Right Studio for Middle-earth?
Warhorse Studios was founded in Prague in July 2011 by Daniel Vávra, the lead writer of the original Mafia (2002) and Mafia II (2010), alongside producer Martin Klíma. The studio built its reputation on handcrafted historical realism through the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance launched in February 2018 and sold 6 million copies by February 2024. Its sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, released on February 4, 2025, hit 1 million copies sold within 24 hours and crossed 5 million copies within its first year, according to Embracer Group’s fiscal report. The game launched on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The studio’s expertise in creating reactive, densely detailed open worlds with deep RPG systems is precisely what the Tolkien franchise has lacked. While the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War games (developed by Monolith Productions) delivered strong action-adventure gameplay and the acclaimed Nemesis system, no game has ever attempted a full-scale, story-driven open-world RPG in Tolkien’s universe. Warhorse’s strengths in that exact niche make it a compelling choice.
Are There Two Lord of the Rings Games in Development?
Strong evidence suggests that Embracer Group has greenlit at least two major Middle-earth projects simultaneously. Crystal Dynamics is reportedly leading the $100 million ADIO-funded project, described as a third-person action game aiming to compete with Hogwarts Legacy. Warhorse’s confirmed open-world Middle-earth RPG is a separate endeavour entirely.
This is possible because Embracer Group acquired Middle-earth Enterprises, giving it unrestricted control over Lord of the Rings video game licensing rights. Fellowship Entertainment, the new entity housing both studios, has the resources and IP access to pursue multiple Middle-earth titles at once. Amazon Games is also separately developing a Lord of the Rings MMO, announced in May 2023.
What About the New Kingdom Come Game?
Warhorse deliberately used the phrase “a new Kingdom Come adventure” rather than Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3. This leaves open whether the project is a full sequel continuing Henry’s story, a spinoff exploring different characters in medieval Bohemia, or even a major expansion.
Embracer Group CEO Phil Rogers stated during the company’s business report that Warhorse plans to release the new Kingdom Come project by “next fiscal year,” pointing toward a 2027 launch window. Given that KCD2 only came out in early 2025, this timeline suggests a smaller-scale project rather than a massive sequel. A Kingdom Come: Deliverance live-action film adaptation is also in development, with Daniel Vávra stepping away from game development in February 2026 to lead that effort as transmedia director.
A Brief History of Lord of the Rings in Gaming
Tolkien’s world has been adapted into video games since 1982 with The Hobbit text adventure. The franchise’s golden era came during the Peter Jackson film trilogy, when EA published The Two Towers and The Return of the King, which together sold millions of copies. The Battle for Middle-earth (2004) became a cult classic RTS, while The Third Age offered a Final Fantasy-style turn-based RPG set during the War of the Ring.
Monolith Productions revitalised the IP with Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor in 2014, which won Game of the Year awards for its innovative Nemesis system, followed by Shadow of War in 2017. However, the franchise has also seen notable failures: The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023) was critically panned, and 2025’s Tales of the Shire life sim received mixed player reactions. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (2023) fared better as a survival crafting game, but none of these titles delivered the definitive single-player open-world RPG that fans have long wanted.
When Could the Middle-earth RPG Release?
Neither Warhorse nor Embracer shared any release date information for the Middle-earth RPG. Given the early stage of the announcement and the typical development cycle for AAA open-world RPGs, a release before 2028 or 2029 seems unlikely. Warhorse is still supporting Kingdom Come: Deliverance II with post-launch content, and the parallel development of a new Kingdom Come project adds to the studio’s workload.
The studio is known to operate with parallel teams using different engines. Reports suggest Warhorse has been working with both CryEngine (used for the Kingdom Come series) and Unreal Engine for its newer project. With over 250 employees as of mid-2024 and Embracer’s financial backing through Fellowship Entertainment, the studio has the infrastructure to handle dual development, but the Middle-earth RPG is almost certainly the longer-term project.
Questions Players Are Already Asking
What platforms will the Lord of the Rings RPG be on? No platform details have been confirmed. Based on KCD2’s release across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, a similar multiplatform approach is expected.
Will it be connected to the films or Amazon’s Rings of Power? No story details have been shared. However, Embracer owns Middle-earth Enterprises, which controls the book rights. The game could draw from Tolkien’s literary works rather than any specific screen adaptation.
Is this the same game Crystal Dynamics is making? No. Multiple sources confirm these are separate projects. Crystal Dynamics is leading the ADIO-backed $100 million project, while Warhorse’s Middle-earth RPG is an independent development.
What about Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO? Amazon Games announced an open-world Lord of the Rings MMO in May 2023, being developed at Amazon Games Orange County for PC and consoles. This is entirely separate from both the Warhorse and Crystal Dynamics projects.
Will Daniel Vávra be involved? Vávra stepped down from active game development at Warhorse in February 2026 to focus on the Kingdom Come film adaptation. He remains associated with the studio but is no longer leading game development. Creative leadership has transitioned to other directors within Warhorse.
Why This Announcement Matters
The confirmation of Warhorse’s Middle-earth RPG marks a significant moment for both the studio and the Lord of the Rings franchise. No developer has ever attempted a true single-player open-world RPG in Tolkien’s universe, despite the IP being one of the most beloved fantasy properties in history. Warhorse’s track record of creating immersive, historically detailed worlds with meaningful player choices positions them uniquely for this challenge.
With Fellowship Entertainment providing structural support, multiple major Lord of the Rings games in various stages of development, and a renewed cultural interest in Tolkien’s world through film and television, Middle-earth gaming is entering its most ambitious era. The long wait for concrete details begins now, but the foundation Warhorse has laid with Kingdom Come gives strong reason for optimism.
