The Lord of the Rings is known as one of the most beloved and acclaimed fantasy works. However, only those interested in The Lord of the Rings video games may fully feel this popularity. It has been exactly 23 years since Peter Jackson's magnificent Lord of the Rings trilogy came to an end, and since then, no game has been as impressive as the game adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Aside from some exceptions like Monolith's Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War, this gap remains unfilled.

Ironically, the new Lord of the Rings game announced by Warhorse is called 'Middle-earth game,' which has raised fans' expectations for an open-world RPG developed by the creators of the Kingdom Come series. While the Lord of the Rings IP is a significant responsibility for any studio, fans are beginning to accept that Warhorse's passion for realism might conflict with the entirely different universe of The Lord of the Rings.

On Reddit, fans are trying to find a balance between their love for Kingdom Come: Deliverance and the world of The Lord of the Rings. While Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its sequel feature historically authentic and deeply immersive qualities, The Lord of the Rings presents a high-fantasy world filled with fantastical races, lands, and creatures. Some fans are concerned about the transfer of the conflict-heavy combat mechanics from Kingdom Come: Deliverance to this game.

However, there is one point on which fans agree: finally, an open-world Middle-earth RPG is the kind of game that Lord of the Rings fans have long been waiting for. It is noteworthy that Warhorse refers to this project as a 'Middle-earth game' rather than a 'Lord of the Rings game.' While The Lord of the Rings is a general term encompassing J.R.R. Tolkien's works set in Middle-earth, how this new game will balance realism with fantastical elements remains a question. Warhorse's unnamed Lord of the Rings game is currently in development.