Warhorse Studios confirm they are making an open-world Middle-earth video game

Warhorse Studios have confirmed long-bubbling rumours that they are working on an open-world, single-player RPG set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium.

Er, that's about it. Aside from confirming the game is on its way, Warhorse haven't shown anything else from the game. However, for the announcement they showed a classic map of Middle-earth depicting Gondor, Mordor and Rohan, hinting that the game will be set during the War of the Ring or perhaps the centuries leading up to it.

Warhorse also confirmed that they will also be releasing a new Kingdom Come "adventure," which isn't as firm a commitment to a full-scale Kingdom Come: Deliverance III. Warhorse isn't the largest studio in the world, so perhaps making two full-scale RPGs is a bit much. Warhorse may also be teasing further expansions or spin-offs from its bestselling, critically-acclaimed 2025 RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

Expect more information on both titles in the future.

Makers of ARMA and MAFIA to make a historical RPG

Computer RPGs tend to come in two flavours: ones set in fantasy worlds (or fantasised versions of the realm world) and games set in science fiction mileus. RPGs set in historical periods are not so much 'thin on the ground' as 'almost non-existent'. The closest such games are probably the Mount and Blade ones, and even they are focused on multiplayer combat over anything else.

New develoment studio Warhorse, based in the Czech Republic, is out to change that. Staffed by former members of Bohemia Interactive and 2K Czech (formerly Illusion Softworks), Warhorse is creating a historically-accurate RPG set in the Holy Roman Empire in 1403 AD, during the 'dying days of the middle ages'. The game will focus on character development, a wide range of combat techniques informed by the real warfare of the time (from field battles to stealth to sieges, either fighting on foot or horseback) and will feature an open world narrative. Basically, think Skyrim but set in Europe with less dragons and magic.

It's an interesting approach to take but the pedigree is impressive. Some of the developers worked on the ARMA series and the original Mafia. Kingdom Come: Deliverance will be released on PC, PS4 and X-Box One in 2015. Many screenshots can be seen here.