New Lord of the Rings Game Comes from Tomb Raider Dev, It's Claimed

Crystal Dynamics at the helm

by Liam Croft 2 hours ago

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King PS2

Tomb Raider outfit Crystal Dynamics is reportedly leading the development of an all-new video game set in The Lord of the Rings universe. First reported on last year, the new game from the Embracer Group is apparently being pitched as a Hogwarts Legacy competitor.

Insider Gaming has now followed up on its initial report to suggest Crystal Dynamics is making the title alongside a number of other parties. The outlet also claims the project has received $100 million of funding from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

The new title in The Lord of the Rings universe has apparently been in development for some time now, but the sources speaking to Insider Gaming indicate it's still a "bit away" from releasing.

Despite recently confirming the return of Lara Croft with Tomb Raider Catalyst and the remake of the first game in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the past few years have been troubling for Crystal Dynamics. Following the cancellation of Perfect Dark, which it was helping Microsoft to make, the developer has been through multiple rounds of layoffs.

It's perhaps surprising it can stretch itself to have two Tomb Raider projects on the go as well as a The Lord of the Rings game.

Similar to the Harry Potter IP, which didn't have a high-quality game adaptation until Hogwarts Legacy came along, The Lord of the Rings universe only really has the two Middle-Earth games from last generation to its name. There were the movie tie-ins on PS2, which have their fans, but then there's also The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

Should this rumoured new game match Hogwarts Legacy, The Lord of the Rings fans will have a title worth playing. Are you excited by the potential? Let us know in the comments below.

[source insider-gaming.com]

Liam grew up with a PlayStation controller in his hands and a love for Metal Gear Solid. Nowadays, he's found playing the latest and greatest PS5 games as well as supporting Derby County. That last detail is his downfall.

1
SuperSilverback
2 hours ago

I remember playing a turn based RPG LOTR game on the PS2 and it being brilliant, but for the life of me I cant remember the name. Didn't play as the main fellowship, was like a side adventure

2
TotallyNew2This
2 hours ago

@SuperSilverback I think it was called LotR: The Third Age…? Great game regardless of what it was called, with production values that were almost as good as The Return of the King tie-in PS2 game back in the day

3
SuperSilverback
2 hours ago

@TotallyNew2This pal I think that was it yeah!

4
Hylian-Likely
2 hours ago

Yeah its The Third Age. Basically an FFX knock off but I loved it.

5
Globo
2 hours ago

More lord of the rings games is never a bad thing!
I'd love to play the old school two towers game from PS2 it's an all timer!

6
Rhaoulos
1 hour ago

Any mention of Rare makes me question why Nintendo never acquire them. And I realise I'm not on Nintendo life.

More on topic: does the right to the Nemesis system come with the LOTR IP?

7
J2theEzzo
1 hour ago

Make it local co-op! Give it online multiplayer functionality, too. Something a mix between the Return of the King and War in the North games. The best successors to the old Baldur's Gate hack-and-slash games. Add an online mode like the LotR battlefield game that released... because, man, they were solid games! One can only dream! 😭

8
BearsEatBeets
1 hour ago

I think the bulk of the work for Legacy of Atlantis is being done by Flying Wild Hog studio so CD only really has one of the TR games themselves.
Still, with a LOTR project as well you would have thought they could have found work for the Perfect Dark people on that instead of dropping them.

The quality of Catalyst will greatly influence the excitement for this LOTR game.

9
crimsontadpoles
1 hour ago

I'll join in with the LotR: The Third Age praise. It was an odd narrative, focusing on an Aldi Fellowship following behind the main fellowship, but the game was a lot of fun.

It would be cool to have a great new LotR game. The recent examples of Tales of the Shire and Gollum don't fill me with much hope, but perhaps they'll prove me wrong.