Wētā Workshop has finally confirmed what seemed like an inevitability. The special effects and prop company most known for its work on the Lord of the Rings films is making a video game that will be published by Private Division, a subsidiary within Take-Two Interactive that has published games like OlliOlli World and Rollerdrome.
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This unnamed game will take place in the “literary Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien,” implicitly implying that it isn’t based on the films. The studio is also getting the “broadest creative license to interpret the underlying lore of the books,” details of which will likely be explained when more information drops. The game doesn’t have a release date, but it expected to launch within Take-Two’s 2024 fiscal year.
Take-Two Chief Strategy Officer Michael Worosz spoke about the collaboration, reiterating Wētā ‘s connection to the franchise.
“We are thrilled to partner with Wētā Workshop to publish a game set in such an extraordinary and celebrated universe,” he said. “The Lord of the Rings IP is home to so many remarkable stories, and no entity is better equipped than the team at Wētā Workshop to create a distinctive, new Middle-earth gaming experience.”
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Head of Interactive at Wētā Workshop Amie Wolken also said that it will be pretty different than other games set in the franchise, but didn’t state what genre it belonged to or why it would be a unique experience.
“It’s a privilege to create a new game set in Middle-earth, especially one that’s so different from what fans have played previously,” she said. “As fans ourselves, we’re excited for gamers to explore Middle-earth in a way they never have before, and introduce new fans to the magic of The Lord of the Rings.”
This game seemed like an inevitability because a Wētā job listing from 2021. As noted by GameSpot, the ad was based on a “major worldwide IP” that was “very close to [their] hearts.” Given the company’s history with the series and the comments about the mystery game, a Lord of the Rings title was a likely outcome.
