New $100 Million Lord of the Rings Game in the Works

This week, there are a lot of huge deals in the gaming business. Reports earlier said that Electronic Arts is moving toward a $55 billion deal to be privatized, which will be backed by Saudi funding. Now, something new from the UAE is making waves: A new Lord of the Rings video game project that is partly paid for by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

A new report states that the project has been in development for some time and that ADIO will provide approximately $100 million in funding. The deal isn't quite done yet, but it might be official as soon as next week.

Up until now, development has been funded from within the company. The investment, however, shows a big push toward delivering a large-scale experience.

Who is Developing the New Lord of the Rings Game?

Sources indicate that the new game will be a third-person action title competing with Hogwarts Legacy. Although details are being kept secret, the goal appears to be a massive undertaking. The Lord of the Rings IP rights were bought by Embracer Group in 2022 for almost $400 million. They are known to be involved.

Embracer had previously licensed the property for games like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which received numerous negative reviews before its developers were shut down. Revenge Studios, a company that is not widely known, is reportedly working on the new game.

The company has fewer than 50 workers and is based in India. Not much is known about its past. Embracer and Revenge haven't commented on the stories, sticking to their usual excuse of not discussing rumors or speculation.

Can The Lord of the Rings take over the gaming industry after so many failures?

There is still reason to be skeptical. Many people recall how Avalanche Studios surprised the industry by transitioning from creating licensed games like Cars 3: Driven to Win to developing Hogwarts Legacy, which became the biggest hit of 2023. But turns like that don't happen very often.

People who follow the business warn that making the same kind of leap with a beloved franchise like Tolkien's will require a significant amount of money, as well as considerable skill and vision.

Still, with a $100 million promise and one of fantasy's most famous worlds at its center, the possibilities are clear. If it works, this Lord of the Rings project could be the long-awaited return of the series as a major game franchise. Fans will be very interested in hearing an official statement in the next few weeks.