Warhorse Studios confirms Middle-earth RPG and new Kingdom Come adventure

Warhorse Studios has officially confirmed development of an open-world Middle-earth RPG and a new Kingdom Come adventure, according to the studio's X announcement on 20 May 2026. The dual reveal follows widespread rumours about the Kingdom Come: Deliverance developer's next projects and comes after the studio's recent success with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

What games did Warhorse Studios announce?

According to Warhorse Studios' official X post, the developer confirmed two major projects currently in development. "You might have heard the rumours, it's time to reveal what we are working on," the studio announced. "An open world Middle-earth RPG. A new Kingdom Come adventure."

The Middle-earth RPG represents the studio's first venture into Tolkien's legendary fantasy world, best known as the setting for The Lord of the Rings series. Meanwhile, the new Kingdom Come adventure continues the historical RPG franchise that established Warhorse Studios' reputation for detailed, immersive role-playing experiences.

Both announcements validate earlier reports about the studio's ambitious development pipeline. We previously covered rumours about the Abu Dhabi-funded project, though the studio's official confirmation provides no details about funding sources or development budgets.

How does this build on Kingdom Come's success?

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II's exceptional reception has clearly positioned Warhorse Studios for these ambitious new projects. The 2025 release earned widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers describing it as "a brilliant RPG that's uncompromisingly itself" and awarding perfect scores.

The studio's proven track record with historical authenticity and immersive world-building makes their approach to Middle-earth particularly intriguing. If you're interested in their previous work, our Dragon's Dogma 2 review explores similar open-world RPG design philosophies that might influence their Middle-earth approach.

Notably, Kingdom Come director Daniel Vávra stepped away from game development earlier this year to focus on producing a movie based on the Kingdom Come series. However, this departure appears unrelated to these new game announcements, suggesting the studio has maintained strong creative leadership for both projects.

Who owns Warhorse Studios and the Lord of the Rings rights?

Warhorse Studios operates under Embracer Group ownership, which today announced the formation of Fellowship Entertainment. According to the announcement, this new subsidiary will focus on development, publishing, and licensing of Embracer's biggest properties including Tomb Raider, Darksiders, Dead Island, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Metro, and The Lord of the Rings.

The timing of Fellowship Entertainment's formation alongside Warhorse's Middle-earth announcement appears strategic. Embracer Group's control of Lord of the Rings licensing rights enables internal development projects like this Middle-earth RPG without complex external licensing negotiations.

This isn't the only Lord of the Rings game in development under Embracer's umbrella. Previous reports suggested Crystal Dynamics was developing a separate $100M Lord of the Rings RPG, though the relationship between these projects remains unclear.

What details are missing from the announcement?

Warhorse Studios provided minimal specifics about either project in their announcement. No release dates, target platforms, or gameplay details were revealed for the Middle-earth RPG or new Kingdom Come adventure. The studio concluded their announcement with "We're excited to tell you more when the time is right," suggesting fans face a significant wait for substantial updates.

Critical missing information includes whether either game targets current-generation consoles exclusively, pricing expectations, and development timelines. Given Kingdom Come: Deliverance II's 2025 release, both projects likely represent multi-year development cycles extending well into the late 2020s.

For UAE gamers particularly, no regional availability, pricing, or localisation details have been announced. However, given the global appeal of both franchises and Warhorse's established distribution network, both games should reach Middle Eastern markets upon release.

Should you get excited about these announcements?

Based on Warhorse Studios' track record, both announcements warrant genuine excitement. The studio's commitment to authentic world-building and immersive storytelling in the Kingdom Come series suggests their Middle-earth interpretation could offer something genuinely distinctive in the crowded fantasy RPG market.

However, temper expectations about near-term playability. Early development stages for both projects mean we're likely years away from gameplay footage, let alone release dates. The announcement appears designed to gauge fan interest and potentially attract additional development talent rather than herald imminent launches.

For context, other ambitious RPG projects like Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 demonstrate how studios can successfully blend narrative innovation with established franchises. Warhorse's approach to both Middle-earth and Kingdom Come could follow similar creative trajectories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What games did Warhorse Studios announce?

Warhorse Studios announced an open-world Middle-earth RPG and a new Kingdom Come adventure. Both projects are currently in development with no release dates confirmed.

When was the announcement made?

The announcement was made on 20 May 2026 via Warhorse Studios' official X account, following earlier rumours about the studio's next projects.

Who owns Warhorse Studios?

Warhorse Studios is owned by Embracer Group, which recently formed Fellowship Entertainment to manage major IPs including Lord of the Rings and Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

When will these games release?

No release dates have been announced for either game. Warhorse Studios stated they'll share more details "when the time is right," suggesting a significant wait for updates.

What platforms will these games be on?

Target platforms haven't been confirmed for either the Middle-earth RPG or new Kingdom Come adventure. Details about console compatibility remain unannounced.

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