Warhorse Studios, the Bohemian development team behind last year’s highly praised Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, is allegedly developing a major Lord of the Rings adaptation. According to claims made by Ryszard Chojnowski, a ex lead developer on The Witcher, the studio is creating a third-person action game set in an open world taking place in Middle-earth. The project is said to be supported by a considerable $100 million investment provided by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, indicating an ambitious AAA undertaking. Though unverified, the news arrives as Warhorse Studios basks in the success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which shipped more than five million copies and established itself as one of 2025’s best titles.
Spanning Medieval Realms to Tolkien’s Middle-earth
Warhorse Studios has established itself as a master of immersive, historically-grounded storytelling through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The studio’s careful attention to world-building, intricate character development, and commitment to player agency have received broad industry recognition. These defining features of their creative approach could transfer exceptionally well to Tolkien’s densely layered universe. The shift from medieval Bohemia to the imagined landscapes of Middle-earth marks a fitting development for a studio that has proven its ability to craft expansive, narratively compelling open worlds.
The scope and ambition essential to a Lord of the Rings game aligns perfectly with Warhorse’s demonstrated capabilities. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 highlighted the studio’s ability to merging period authenticity with engaging gameplay mechanics, creating an experience that felt both grounded and epic in scale. With a noted $100 million investment backing the project, Warhorse would command the financial capacity to execute Tolkien’s expansive worlds and intricate mythology. Such a partnership could potentially provide a Lord of the Rings experience that matches the property’s narrative legacy.
- Engaging open-world framework validated via Kingdom Come success
- Compelling story-driven narratives and character progression mastery
- Experience creating vast fantasy medieval worlds
- Substantial funding support enables ambitious scope
The Reported Project Details
Considerable Financial Commitment and Scale
Reports first appeared in 2025 suggesting that a new Lord of the Rings game was in active development, backed by a remarkable $100 million investment from the Abu Dhabi-based investment fund. This substantial financial commitment underscores the importance of the project within the video game sector, positioning it as a major AAA endeavour rather than a small indie project. The scale of funding suggests developers have been granted considerable resources to bring to life an expansive vision of Middle-earth, potentially enabling expansive environments, advanced technology, and extensive narrative content that suits the legendary world of Tolkien.
The project has been positioned as a third-person action game set in an open world, a format that has become increasingly favoured in the market. This design philosophy aligns remarkably well with Warhorse Studios’ demonstrated expertise in crafting immersive, player-driven experiences. The combination of a significant financial investment, proven developer credentials, and a established gameplay model points to the Lord of the Rings adaptation could represent a major achievement for the franchise, offering fans a major blockbuster experience on a scope unreached since 2017’s Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
Ryszard Chojnowski, a previous project lead on The Witcher series, provided the initial definitive indication of Warhorse Studios’ participation throughout an interview on the Tolkien Polska podcast. Whilst at first sceptical of the claim himself, Chojnowski recognised that mounting accounts and speculation lent credibility to the claim. However, it continues to be essential to emphasise that this information remains unconfirmed conjecture, and studio strategies often evolve throughout development cycles.
- $$100m investment by Abu Dhabi Investment Office backing the project
- Third-person perspective, expansive open-world action game format verified in previous reports
- Project developed under the Embracer Group corporate parent company structure
Why Warhorse Studios Represents a Strong Fit
Warhorse Studios has showcased exceptional capability in developing vast, absorbing settings that emphasise player choice and historical authenticity. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s critical reception and sales success—surpassing five million copies sold—confirms the studio’s ability to deliver expansive open-world endeavours with scrupulous detail work. The game’s engaging gameplay systems and narrative depth have cemented Warhorse as a developer able to execute expansive narratives and complex gameplay systems. These achievements mark the Czech studio as an ideal candidate for translating Tolkien’s elaborate fictional world into an playable format that honours the source material’s depth and complexity.
The thematic similarities between Kingdom Come’s medieval European setting and Middle-earth’s fantasy landscape point to a natural artistic fit. Both universes necessitate richly detailed environments, period-appropriate aesthetics, and historically grounded worldbuilding—areas where Warhorse has regularly demonstrated excellence. The studio’s proven expertise in balancing narrative ambition with technical mastery makes them well-suited to deliver the magnitude and standard expected from a $100 million Lord of the Rings project. Furthermore, Warhorse’s track record of development for the Embracer Group ecosystem provides established systems and distribution partnerships that could facilitate efficient release strategies.
| 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-Building Portfolio
Kingdom Come: Deliverance reshaped player expectations regarding immersion through its commitment to systemic design and world narrative. The game’s medieval Bohemian setting was thoroughly investigated and authentically reconstructed, establishing a world where each element—from architecture to dialogue—strengthened authenticity. This method of constructing worlds reflects the meticulous care Tolkien applied to Middle-earth’s languages, histories, and cultures. Warhorse’s demonstrated capability to reconcile historical fidelity with engaging gameplay indicates they demonstrate the appropriate sensibilities to respect Tolkien’s established universe whilst creating substantive gameplay moments.
The studio’s expertise in crafting interconnected open-world spaces filled with complex non-player characters and story-driven moments directly applies to Lord of the Rings development requirements. Middle-earth’s distinct territories—from the Shire’s bucolic character to Mordor’s desolate expanses—call for the kind of landscape diversity and atmospheric storytelling Warhorse has already perfected. Their focus on player-driven narratives, where personal actions influence the world, resonates with modern expectations for fantasy gaming experiences. This foundation allows Warhorse to deliver a Lord of the Rings adaptation that feels both faithful to source material and creatively engaging.
What Stays Unclear
Whilst the discussions surrounding Warhorse Studios’ participation 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 sector speculation 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 prominent standing of such an venture—particularly one allegedly backed by a $100 million investment from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office—the missing public declaration is noteworthy. Professional projects often change, partnerships dissolve, and projects require major modifications before wider announcement.
The schedule for any potential Lord of the Rings release remains similarly unclear. Should Warhorse indeed be developing the title, the studio would be juggling various obligations and building new pipelines for an completely separate intellectual property. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s success has likely generated demands for continued development, supplementary material, and player interaction. Additionally, obtaining the required approvals and permissions from Tolkien Estate officials and Middle-earth Enterprises involves elaborate talks that could extend creation periods substantially. Without definitive facts concerning current stage, staff levels, or expected completion dates, theories on when audiences may eventually enjoy this Middle-earth adventure remains wholly hypothetical.
- Formal verification from Warhorse Studios or Warner Bros. has not been provided
- Production schedule and projected release timeframe are completely unverified
- Project scope—size, story direction, game mechanics—largely undefined
- Possible setbacks or cancellations may happen during prolonged production phase
The Wider LOTR Gaming World
The Lord of the Rings franchise has undergone a rather sporadic presence in gaming over the last ten years. Following the critical and financial success of Middle-earth: Shadow of War in 2017, the licence has continued to remain dormant in the major gaming sector. Licensing complications and the lapse of existing agreements have generated substantial vacancies in the market, leaving devoted devoted fans with limited official interactive experiences. The property’s substantial cultural significance and the passionate fanbase surrounding Tolkien’s works suggest considerable untapped potential. A major new entry from a developer of Warhorse’s calibre could rekindle enthusiasm and build a fresh franchise within the gaming industry.
Should Warhorse Studios complete a Lord of the Rings game, it would mark a major achievement for both the studio and the franchise. The developer’s demonstrated capability in crafting immersive, story-driven experiences through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 sets them up to do justice to Middle-earth’s expansive storytelling heritage. A third-person action adventure in an open world could potentially offer players unparalleled liberty in discovering Tolkien’s creation, fostering engaging encounters with memorable places and personalities. The $100 million financial backing suggests goals comparable to those of other premium AAA releases, potentially rivalling contemporary fantasy blockbusters in scope and production values.
