Warhorse Studios has officially confirmed that it is developing a new open-world role-playing game set in Middle-earth, while also working on another entry in the Kingdom Come franchise. The announcement follows weeks of speculation after reports suggested the Czech developer was attached to a Lord of the Rings project, although details surrounding the game remained unclear at the time.
The studio shared the update through its official X account, confirming both projects are currently in development. While Warhorse did not reveal gameplay footage, release targets, or official titles, the confirmation is enough to generate attention around the company’s future lineup.
The biggest reveal is the studio’s involvement with an open-world RPG based on The Lord of the Rings. Rumors about the project had circulated recently, with conflicting information about its genre and scale. Some reports claimed it could be a smaller narrative experience or a side project. Warhorse’s statement now confirms that the game is being developed as a full open-world RPG set in Middle-earth.
This marks a major shift for the developer, which built its reputation through the historically grounded Kingdom Come Deliverance series. The franchise became known for realistic medieval combat, detailed storytelling, and a grounded approach to role-playing mechanics. Bringing that experience into the fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien could give players a different type of Middle-earth RPG compared to previous adaptations.
Alongside the Lord of the Rings project, Warhorse also confirmed work on a “new Kingdom Come adventure.” Although the studio avoided directly naming the project, many fans expect it to be Kingdom Come Deliverance 3, especially following the success and ongoing popularity of the second game. There is also a chance that the upcoming title could be a spin-off connected to the same universe rather than a direct sequel.
The announcement comes during a period of controversy for the studio. Warhorse recently faced criticism after reports claimed that a Czech translator had allegedly been replaced with AI-assisted tools during localization work. The reports triggered discussions online regarding the growing use of artificial intelligence in game development and localization.
In response to the criticism, Warhorse stated that it does not see AI as a replacement for human workers. The company also said that it is continuing to expand its translation team despite using modern development tools internally. Even so, the situation has raised concerns among parts of the gaming community about how AI may affect future creative roles within the industry.
At the moment, there is no release window for either project, and Warhorse has not shared additional development details. More information about the Middle-earth RPG and the next Kingdom Come title is expected to surface in the coming months as the studio moves closer to official reveals.
