A studio that wanted to kill a rumor would kill it.
In the careful grammar of the games industry, silence is often its own kind of speech. Warhorse Studios, fresh from the commercial triumph of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, fielded pointed questions about a rumored Lord of the Rings adaptation during a Reddit Q&A — and chose, with deliberate artfulness, to neither confirm nor deny. What lingers is not what was said, but the shape of what was withheld: a studio that knows how to kill a rumor, and chose not to.
- Fans pressed Warhorse developers directly about Tolkien rumors during a live Reddit Q&A, and the studio responded with humor and deflection rather than denial.
- Community manager Tom Grey joked that details couldn't be shared without a time machine — a non-answer that only intensified speculation.
- Content director Ondřej Bittner confirmed the studio is 'hard at work on something' described as a 'huge, immersive RPG,' but refused to name it.
- The Lord of the Rings gaming landscape is bruised — Gollum, Tales of the Shire, and Return to Moria all stumbled — leaving a credible opening for a studio with Warhorse's pedigree.
- With over five million copies of Kingdom Come 2 sold since February, the studio has both the resources and the reputation to pursue a major new IP or franchise pivot.
Warhorse Studios has neither confirmed nor denied developing a Lord of the Rings game — and in the careful language of the industry, that restraint may be the most telling answer of all.
During a Reddit Q&A, fans pushed the developers directly on persistent Tolkien rumors. Community manager Tom Grey deflected with a joke about time machines. Content director Ondřej Bittner went slightly further: he confirmed the studio is working on something he called a 'huge, immersive RPG,' but said he couldn't disclose details. A studio eager to kill a rumor typically does so plainly. Warhorse chose strategic ambiguity instead.
The timing gives the hint weight. Recent Lord of the Rings games — Gollum, Tales of the Shire, Return to Moria — have struggled both critically and commercially, leaving the license hungry for a credible steward. Warhorse, known for Kingdom Come's intricate systems and immersive world-building, would bring considerable craft to a Tolkien adaptation. Separately, Crystal Dynamics is also rumored to be developing a third-person action game set in Middle-earth.
Financially, Warhorse has options. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has sold over five million copies since its February release. When asked about a third installment, Bittner offered only: 'There are plans in motion. Plans for immersive RPG.' No timeline, no title, no clarity — just the outline of something large taking shape behind closed doors.
Warhorse Studios, the team behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has neither confirmed nor denied that they're developing a Lord of the Rings game—which, in the careful language of video game studios, might be the closest thing to an admission you'll get.
During a Reddit Q&A session, fans pressed the developers about persistent rumors linking them to a Tolkien adaptation. When asked directly about the project, community manager Tom Grey offered a deflection wrapped in humor: the studio couldn't comment on future projects, he said, at least not until someone showed up with a time machine. It was the kind of non-answer that leaves room for interpretation.
Content director Ondřej Bittner went further, though still carefully. When a commenter expressed doubt that Warhorse would even respond to the question, Bittner did reply—but with another layer of ambiguity. He confirmed the studio is "hard at work on something," described it as a "huge, immersive RPG," and explicitly said he couldn't disclose details. The phrasing matters. A studio that wanted to kill a rumor outright would likely say so. Instead, Warhorse chose strategic silence.
The context makes the hint feel significant. The Lord of the Rings has struggled in video games lately. Tales of the Shire, Gollum, and Return to Moria all underperformed commercially and critically. But rumors have circulated about other projects in development—including a third-person action game allegedly in the works at Crystal Dynamics. If Warhorse is indeed pursuing a Tolkien license, they would bring considerable pedigree to it. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 built its reputation on intricate systems, immersive world-building, and a commitment to historical detail that translates conceptually to fantasy settings.
There's also a financial argument for the studio to look beyond their own franchise. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has sold over five million copies since its February release, a success that could justify either a third installment or a pivot to new intellectual property. When asked about plans for Kingdom Come 3, Bittner gave a similarly cryptic response: "There are plans in motion. Plans for immersive RPG." He offered no specifics, no timeline, no clarity.
What emerges from these exchanges is a studio that has learned to speak in riddles. Warhorse isn't confirming a Lord of the Rings project, but they're also not denying it—and in an industry where studios routinely shut down speculation to manage expectations, that restraint itself becomes newsworthy. Whether the next game carries the Tolkien name or something else entirely, the studio has signaled that whatever comes next will be another sprawling, systems-heavy RPG. For now, that's all anyone outside the studio knows.
Citações Notáveis
We are hard at work on something. I cannot disclose details but I can tell it is a huge, immersive RPG.— Ondřej Bittner, Warhorse content director
Obviously we can't comment on future projects, at least not until we're in the future.— Tom Grey, Warhorse community manager
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why would Warhorse bother with these coy answers instead of just saying no?
Because saying no would be a lie, probably. If they're actually working on it, they can't confirm it yet—licensing deals, contracts, all that. But they also can't afford to look evasive about something they're genuinely not doing. The middle ground is what you saw.
So the non-denial is basically a confirmation?
Not quite. It's a signal. A studio that wanted to kill a rumor would kill it. They didn't. But that's not the same as saying "yes, we're making a Lord of the Rings game." It's more like: we're not going to tell you, and we're not going to lie to you either.
Kingdom Come is selling millions of copies. Why wouldn't they just make Kingdom Come 3?
They might. Bittner's answer about that was just as vague. But five million copies also means they have the resources and credibility to do something bigger, something different. A Lord of the Rings game would be a statement—proof that they can handle a major license, not just their own world.
What's changed for Lord of the Rings games? Why would this one be different?
The recent ones—Gollum, Tales of the Shire—they didn't have the systems depth or the world-building philosophy that Warhorse brings. Warhorse makes games where the world feels lived-in, where mechanics serve immersion. That's exactly what a Tolkien adaptation needs.
Is there any chance this is just marketing? That they're hinting at something that doesn't exist?
Unlikely. The downside is too big. If they're teasing a Lord of the Rings game and it turns out to be something else, they look foolish. Studios don't usually take that risk unless there's something real underneath.