Kingdom Come Developer Expands Into The Lord of the Rings With New Open-World RPG

What happens when a studio known for realistic medieval RPGs suddenly steps into the world of Middle-earth fantasy? Warhorse Studios is suddenly becoming one of the most talked-about names in gaming after officially confirming two major RPG projects now in development.

The announcement is already placing the studio among discussions surrounding the top upcoming video game releases in modern gaming entertainment. Alongside a new “Kingdom Come” title, the studio also confirmed a large open-world Middle-earth RPG, quickly pushing Warhorse into discussions about the top upcoming video game releases.

The next chapter of Warhorse’s medieval RPG vision

News about another project alone would already be enough to excite RPG fans. The franchise built a strong reputation by focusing on realistic medieval life instead of fantasy creatures and magical powers commonly seen in modern gaming entertainment.

Titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance became known for grounded combat, survival mechanics, and historically inspired storytelling that rewarded patience and strategy over fast-paced arcade action. Its sequel, Deliverance II, became one of 2025’s fastest-selling games after reportedly selling 1 million copies on its first day and reaching 5 million within its first year.

Many believe the newly confirmed project could eventually become Deliverance 3, although Warhorse has not officially confirmed the final title yet. Reports also suggest the next game may target a release sometime between 2027 and 2028 if development stays on schedule.

Some fans expect the story to continue after Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, while others think the studio may explore a completely different region or introduce new characters within the same realistic medieval setting.

Warhorse enters The Lord of the Rings universe

Excitement is also building around the studio’s Middle-earth RPG. Early rumors caused confusion about the genre of the project, but Warhorse has now confirmed it will be a full open-world RPG connected to the universe of The Lord of the Rings.

That instantly raised questions throughout the gaming world. How will a developer known for realism handle fantasy creatures, large-scale battles, and magical settings? Could Warhorse combine its immersive role-playing systems with Middle-earth lore to create something very different from other latest game releases?

Considering the amount of work involved in modern game development, much of the gaming community is not surprised by the lengthy timeline. Building detailed worlds, advanced AI systems, motion capture scenes, branching quests, and realistic combat mechanics often takes years for large RPG productions.

AI concerns enter game development debate

Recent controversy involving AI tools has also placed Warhorse under additional attention. Reports claimed a Czech translator had been replaced by AI-assisted systems, sparking criticism online. Now, could growing AI use in game development eventually reshape how studios handle creative work?

The company later said it does not view artificial intelligence as a replacement for human workers and that it is still growing its translation team. Even with many gameplay, platform, and release details still unknown, excitement around the projects remains strong. With both realistic medieval adventures and a major Middle-earth RPG in the works, Warhorse Studios is quickly becoming one of gaming’s most closely watched developers.