Warhorse Studios has confirmed it is building an open-world RPG set in The Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth, putting one of gaming's most beloved universes in the hands of the Prague-based team behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
The studio broke the news through an Instagram post that included a teaser image of a Middle-earth map, with locations including Mordor visible. "You might have heard the rumors, it's time to reveal what we are working on. An open world Middle-earth RPG. We're excited to tell you more when the time is right," Warhorse Studios said.
A reported budget of roughly $100 million is attached to the project, according to Vice, putting it among the more expensive RPG productions in recent memory. Speculation about Warhorse's involvement with a Lord of the Rings game first circulated in March, though those early leaks were widely regarded as unverified at the time.
"Just thinking about one of the biggest and most beloved IPs in the world being developed here in Prague is honestly mind-blowing. We have always created worlds full of stories, places, and characters that pull you in. That is exactly the kind of Middle-earth we want to bring to life," the studio added.
The Lord of the Rings project is not Warhorse's only active game. Alongside the Middle-earth announcement, the studio also confirmed a new Kingdom Come adventure is currently in development, giving fans of the franchise something to look forward to on a separate track.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 arrived in 2025, and the studio's willingness to take on a property of this scale signals a significant step up in ambition for the Czech developer.
