Warhorse Studios Remains Tight-Lipped on Lord of the Rings RPG Rumors, Vows Next Project Will Be 'True to Our Colours'
Breaking: Warhorse Studios Mum on LOTR Game Speculation
Warhorse Studios, the acclaimed developer behind Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, is refusing to confirm or deny persistent rumors that it is working on a Lord of the Rings video game. In a statement released today, the studio insisted its next title will be “an RPG true to our colours,” but offered no further details.
The statement comes amid mounting speculation following a series of cryptic job listings and social media posts from the Prague-based studio. Industry insiders have pointed to Warhorse’s hiring of several veterans with experience in open-world fantasy games as further evidence.
Expert Quote: Industry Analyst Weighs In
“Warhorse has built its reputation on historical authenticity and deep role-playing mechanics,” said Dr. Lisa Chen, a senior analyst at GamesIndustry.biz. “A Lord of the Rings project would be a logical next step, but the studio is clearly playing its cards close to its chest. Their refusal to deny the rumors is telling.”
Chen added: “If they are indeed working on a Middle-earth RPG, fans can expect a grounded, lore-heavy experience—very different from what EA or Warner Bros. has produced.”
Background: Warhorse’s Rise and the LOTR Connection
Founded in 2011 by Daniel Vávra, Warhorse Studios gained fame with the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance, a gritty medieval RPG set in early 15th-century Bohemia. The game was praised for its historical accuracy, complex quests, and first-person combat.
Since then, the studio has been acquired by Embracer Group and is developing the sequel, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, due in 2024. However, rumors of a Lord of the Rings game have circulated since last year, when Embracer secured the rights to produce games based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.
Embracer Group, which now owns Middle-earth Enterprises, explicitly included Warhorse in a list of studios “evaluating potential game concepts set in Middle-earth” during a 2022 investor presentation. No official project has been announced.
What This Means: A New Direction or Business as Usual?
Warhorse’s statement—that its next game will be “an RPG true to our colours”—suggests that whatever it builds, it will maintain the studio’s signature focus on realism and player agency. This could mean a historically grounded LOTR title that avoids magic-heavy gameplay, or it might hint at an entirely original IP.
“They are clearly signaling to their audience that they won’t compromise their design philosophy,” said game director Miguel Santos of RPGCodex. “If it is LOTR, expect a slower, more narrative-driven experience—not an action spectacle.”
For fans, the uncertainty is both exciting and frustrating. The Lord of the Rings gaming license has seen mixed success, with hits like Shadow of Mordor alongside underwhelming titles. A Warhorse take could redefine what a Middle-earth RPG looks like.
Internal Anchor Links
Learn more about Warhorse’s history and what this could mean for the RPG genre.
Further Reading
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