Ryszard Chojnowski, a veteran of CD Projekt RED, has confirmed in a podcast the rumors about Warhorse Studios' next major project. According to his information, the Czech studio, after the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, would be working on an open-world role-playing video game based on The Lord of the Rings. The project would have an investment close to 100 million dollars, coming from funds from the United Arab Emirates, and is framed within Embracer Group's collaboration with Middle-earth Enterprises.
Warhorse's Technical Suitability and Creative Challenge 🛡️
Warhorse's experience in recreating a realistic medieval world with Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a double-edged sword for this project. On one hand, they master the creation of complex systems, meticulous melee combat, and a persistent world. On the other, the leap to Tolkien's high fantasy poses a monumental challenge in asset design, creatures, magic, and epic scales. The 100M USD investment, huge for the studio, will need to be allocated to expanding the team, technology for a vaster and more magical world, and the license. The biggest challenge will be to maintain their immersive design philosophy and deep systems while meeting the expectations of a global license.
The Weight of Adapting a Universal License ⚖️
Adapting The Lord of the Rings to an open-world RPG entails extreme creative and commercial pressure. Warhorse must find a balance between their raw simulation identity and the accessibility demanded by a massive IP. Every design decision, from the protagonist's race to the implementation of magic, will be scrutinized. This project could catapult the Czech studio to the world forefront or demonstrate the risks of a studio with a very particular voice tackling such a defined and beloved intellectual property.
How will Warhorse Studios' experience with Kingdom Come: Deliverance and CD Projekt RED's legacy influence the approach to the Lord of the Rings RPG?
(P.S.: optimizing for mobile is like trying to fit an elephant into a Mini Cooper)