SUMMARY
  • After the disastrous launch of Gollum last year, The Lord of the Rings fans deserve a proper video game.
  • Embracer Group is working on multiple titles based on the IP, which are still in their prototyping phase.
  • The upcoming games will put a lot more focus on storytelling than other recent titles set in Middle-earth.

It is tough being a fan of The Lord of the Rings and video games simultaneously, as the franchise has not really had the greatest luck in the realm of gaming for quite a long time. For one reason or another, the IP’s journey in games has been rocky at best in recent times, which has been disappointing for its loyal fanbase because of the potential it knows the franchise has shown glimpses of in the not-so-distant past.

But with titles like Gollum and Return to Moria being anything but what the fans actually want to play, it looks like the most unexpected publisher is swooping in to save the day.

Embracer Group Is Currently Prototyping New The Lord of the Rings Video Games

After the disappointing adventure of Gollum, The Lord of the Rings fans can now hope for better video games.
After the disappointing adventure of Gollum, The Lord of the Rings fans can now hope for better video games.

In its Interim Report for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Embracer Group provided an extensive rundown regarding the company’s annual progress, during which it also touched upon the numerous projects that its subsidiaries are currently working on.

Under the World Class Intellectual Property section of its detailed report, the company brought up its acquisition of Middle Earth Enterprises, a business move that gave Embracer the IP rights to create new gaming experiences for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

While the on-going development of an MMORPG based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic universe, in collaboration with Amazon Games, is already public knowledge at this point, the new information that came next should definitely stick out to Middle-earth fans.

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To the probable delight of the IP’s gaming fanbase, Embracer announced that its teams “are actively testing and prototyping multiple new game concepts, exploring a wide range of immersive and authentic gameplay within the Middle-earth world.”

There is not any doubt that the massive fantasy world created by Tolkien begs to be explored even further than what the films and other games have managed in the past, but with various titles in development, perhaps The Lord of the Rings can break its less than ideal recent track record in the gaming realm.

The New Titles Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s World Will Focus on Telling Immersive Stories

Playing a crafting game as the dwarves of Moria sounds fine, but it is no Shadow of War.
Playing a crafting game as the dwarves of Moria sounds fine, but it is no Shadow of War.

While the adventures of Gollum proved to be a disappointment due to reasons like a narrative that just falls flat, along with the crafting mechanics of Return to Moria not really being able to focus much on the plot, there is a new ray of hopeful sunshine for The Lord of the Rings fans.

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Embracer Group has assured its player base that the company is following “an honest and tactical approach to world-building and authentic storytelling” with the upcoming video games based on the IP, which has always been J. R. R. Tolkien’s biggest strength since the 20th century. As the publisher focuses on “creating experiences that truly resonate” with the audience, it will be interesting to see what kind of stories it will present, as the possibilities are truly endless.

Embracer’s newly announced titles combined with the upcoming MMORPG and Tales of the Shire could help The Lord of the Rings return to the glory it once used to have in gaming with games like Shadow of War.

Fans of other high-profile fantasy IPs have been receiving plenty of great video games in a relatively shorter time span, and it would be appreciated if Middle-earth finds its place in the realm of gaming again.