Warhorse Studios, the Bohemian development team behind 2024’s highly praised Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, is allegedly working on a major Lord of the Rings adaptation. According to claims made by Ryszard Chojnowski, a former lead developer on The Witcher, the studio is creating a third-person action game set in an open world set in Middle-earth. The project is reportedly supported by a considerable $100 million investment from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, suggesting an expansive AAA undertaking. Whilst unconfirmed, the news comes as Warhorse Studios basks in the acclaim of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which sold over five million copies and became one of 2025’s best titles.
From Medieval Kingdoms to Middle-earth
Warhorse Studios has made a name as a master of deeply immersive, period-authentic storytelling through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The studio’s careful attention to environmental design, intricate character development, and focus on player agency have earned extensive critical praise. These defining features of their design philosophy could transfer exceptionally well to Tolkien’s densely layered universe. The move from medieval Bohemia to the magical worlds of Middle-earth constitutes a logical progression for a studio that has shown its expertise to craft vast, story-driven open worlds.
The breadth and drive essential to a Lord of the Rings game aligns perfectly with Warhorse’s established track record. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 highlighted the studio’s talent for merging period authenticity with engaging gameplay mechanics, delivering an experience that proved to be grounded yet epic. With a reported $100 million investment backing the project, Warhorse would have the resources necessary to bring to life Tolkien’s expansive worlds and intricate mythology. Such a union could potentially deliver a Lord of the Rings experience that honours the property’s narrative legacy.
- Engaging open-world framework proven through Kingdom Come achievement
- Robust narrative craftsmanship and character arc proficiency
- Experience crafting vast fantasy medieval worlds
- Substantial funding support enables grand ambition
The Reported Project Details
Significant Capital Outlay and Extent
Reports first appeared in 2025 indicating that a new Lord of the Rings game was in active development, backed by a substantial $100 million financial commitment from the Abu Dhabi-based investment fund. This considerable financial backing demonstrates the importance of the project within the video game sector, establishing it as a major AAA endeavour rather than a small indie project. The level of investment suggests development teams have received substantial resources to realise an expansive vision of Middle-earth, potentially enabling expansive environments, cutting-edge technology, and extensive narrative content that suits the legendary world of Tolkien.
The project has been described as a third-person, open-world action game, a format that has proven increasingly popular across the gaming sector. This development strategy works exceptionally well with Warhorse Studios’ proven track record in creating immersive, player-focused gameplay. The combination of a substantial budget, recognized studio reputation, and a proven gameplay formula suggests the Lord of the Rings adaptation could mark a significant milestone for the franchise, offering fans a AAA adventure on a magnitude unseen since 2017’s Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
Ryszard Chojnowski, a former project lead on The Witcher series, offered the first concrete evidence of Warhorse Studios’ participation during an interview on the Tolkien Polska podcast. Whilst at first doubtful of the claim himself, Chojnowski recognised that accumulating reports and rumours lent credibility to the claim. However, it remains crucial to stress that this data stays unconfirmed conjecture, and studio strategies frequently change throughout the development process.
- $$100m capital injection from Abu Dhabi Investment Office underwriting the project
- Third-person, open-world action title gameplay style confirmed in previous reports
- Project developed within the Embracer Group corporate umbrella structure
Why Warhorse Studios Makes Sense
Warhorse Studios has showcased impressive expertise in creating expansive, engaging environments that centre on player control and period authenticity. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s critical acclaim and commercial performance—reaching five million copies sold—confirms the studio’s capacity to deliver large-scale open-world experiences with meticulous attention to detail. The game’s engaging gameplay systems and narrative depth have positioned Warhorse as a developer capable of handling ambitious storylines and intricate gameplay mechanics. These qualifications position the Czech studio as an excellent choice for translating Tolkien’s complex mythological universe into an playable format that maintains the source material’s narrative depth and thematic complexity.
The thematic similarities between Kingdom Come’s medieval European setting and Middle-earth’s fantasy landscape indicate a natural creative alignment. Both universes demand richly detailed environments, era-fitting visual style, and authentic world creation—areas where Warhorse has consistently excelled. The studio’s demonstrated capability in reconciling creative vision with technical proficiency makes them well-suited to deliver the scope and calibre expected from a $100 million Lord of the Rings project. Furthermore, Warhorse’s track record of development for the Embracer Group ecosystem offers established systems and distribution partnerships that could accelerate production timelines.
| Studio Strength | Relevance to LOTR Project |
|---|---|
| Immersive open-world design | Essential for realising Middle-earth’s expansive geography and interconnected regions |
| Historical authenticity and detail | Aligns with Tolkien’s meticulous world-building and cultural consistency |
| Complex narrative integration | Crucial for weaving player agency with established Lord of the Rings lore |
| AAA-scale project management | Proven ability to deliver blockbuster titles within demanding development cycles |
Engaging World Creation Portfolio
Kingdom Come: Deliverance reshaped player expectations regarding immersion through its dedication to interconnected systems and world narrative. The game’s medieval Bohemian setting was thoroughly investigated and authentically reconstructed, establishing a world where each element—from visual design to character speech—reinforced authenticity. This approach to world-building mirrors the obsessive attention Tolkien applied to the languages, histories, and cultures of Middle-earth. Warhorse’s established track record to balance period accuracy with engaging gameplay implies they have the required understanding to respect Tolkien’s created world whilst creating substantive gameplay moments.
The studio’s track record of crafting expansive interconnected worlds filled with engaging AI characters and narrative possibilities directly translates to Lord of the Rings project needs. Middle-earth’s distinct territories—from the Shire’s pastoral charm to Mordor’s desolate expanses—call for the kind of environmental variety and immersive narrative design Warhorse has already perfected. Their commitment to choice-based storytelling, where player decisions influence the world, aligns perfectly with current player expectations for role-playing games. This groundwork positions Warhorse to deliver a Lord of the Rings game that feels both respectful of the books and creatively engaging.
What Stays Unclear
Whilst the discussions surrounding Warhorse Studios’ involvement in a Lord of the Rings project possess significant credibility, public acknowledgement remains notably lacking. Ryszard Chojnowski’s claims on the Tolkien Polska podcast, though intriguing, represent industry hearsay rather than verified fact. The Czech developer and Warner Bros. Interactive have remained wholly unresponsive on the matter, refusing to confirm or deny the project’s existence. Given the significant profile of such an venture—particularly one allegedly backed by a $100 million investment from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office—the absence of formal statement is noteworthy. Industry plans often change, partnerships terminate, and projects undergo significant restructuring before official disclosure.
The schedule for any potential Lord of the Rings release remains similarly unclear. Should Warhorse actually be creating the title, the studio would be balancing various obligations and creating new pipelines for an completely separate intellectual property. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s success has likely generated demands for continued development, supplementary material, and community engagement. Additionally, acquiring the necessary creative and legal clearances from Tolkien Estate representatives and Middle-earth Enterprises requires elaborate talks that could lengthen production timelines significantly. Without specific information regarding development progress, team size, or anticipated finish times, conjecture regarding when gamers could potentially play this Middle-earth adventure continues to be purely theoretical.
- Official confirmation from Warhorse Studios or Warner Bros. is entirely lacking
- Production schedule and projected release timeframe are completely unverified
- Scope of the project—size, story direction, gameplay features—largely undefined
- Potential delays or cancellations could occur during extended development cycle
The Overall LOTR Gaming Sector
The Lord of the Rings franchise has experienced a somewhat irregular presence in gaming over the previous ten years. Following the critical and commercial success of Middle-earth: Shadow of War in 2017, the licence has continued to remain dormant in the AAA gaming space. Licensing disputes and the end of prior agreements have produced major gaps in the market, leaving devoted devoted fans with restricted official gaming options. The property’s substantial cultural significance and the dedicated fanbase surrounding Tolkien’s works point to considerable untapped potential. A major new entry from a developer of Warhorse’s calibre could restore interest and establish a fresh franchise within the gaming industry.
Should Warhorse Studios successfully deliver a Lord of the Rings game, it would represent a significant milestone for both the studio and the franchise. The developer’s established track record in developing immersive, character-centred worlds through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 equips them effectively to honour Middle-earth’s deep lore and history. A third-person open-world action game could conceivably provide players unprecedented freedom in discovering Tolkien’s creation, creating meaningful interactions with memorable places and personalities. The $100 million funding commitment suggests goals comparable to those of other premium AAA releases, possibly competing with contemporary fantasy blockbusters in scale and visual quality.
