Ontwikkelaar Free Range Games heeft in samenwerking met uitgever North Beach Games een gloednieuwe game in het The Lord of the Rings-universum aangekondigd voor pc. Het betreft een coöp survival game genaamd The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria met een geplande release in de lente van 2023.

Het verhaal van Return to Moria speelt zich af in de Vierde Era van Midden-Aarde, waarin spelers de controle nemen over een groep dwergen met de taak om de verloren buit in de mijnen van Moria te herwinnen. Tijdens deze reis zullen spelers met elkaar kunnen samenwerken om te overleven. Hiervoor zul je verschillende hulpmiddelen moeten craften en bouwen in de procedureel gegenereerde mijnen.

Het spel zal met de release exclusief te verkrijgen zijn via de Epic Games Store. De uitgever heeft nog niets laten weten over een eventuele release op consoles of bijvoorbeeld Steam. Je kan de aankondigingstrailer en meer informatie over de game hieronder bekijken:

Key Features

  • Feel the Fellowship – Experience the Fellowship of the Dwarves like never before, with the rich lore of the iconic fantasy world from J.R.R. Tolkien interwoven into the very fabric of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.
  • Survive the Dark – To survive the treacherous Mines of Moria players must conserve resources, hunt, and gather for food and manage their sleep, temperature, and noise levels. Utilize dynamic light systems for safety and to blaze a path further into the darkness. Battle unspeakable evils and survive hordes of monstrous Orcs in visceral combat, while uncovering the secret of the Shadow that looms within the mountain.
  • Base Building – Find solace from the darkness. Reveal and clear new locations to create architecture on a grand scale. Get creative and construct bases from scratch or build upon the existing environment. Beware the evils which seek to destroy Dwarven progress.
  • Rebuild and Reshape Moria – Restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dum to its former glory, recovering Dwarven landmarks as the story progresses. Resurrect old mines and refire their forges to yield their untouched resources.
  • Explore – Delve into the depths of the Mines of Moria. Procedurally generated environments are abundant with resources and fraught with mystery and danger, providing a unique experience each and every time.
  • Co-op Multiplayer – Adventure alone or band together with friends in online cooperative multiplayer with up to eight players.
  • Craft Dwarven Tools, Weapons and More – Craft and loot legendary Dwarven armor, tools, weapons and structures. Rebuild ancient forges to strengthen, repair and enchant gear. Upgrade and unlock new technologies and fantastical machines.
  • Uncover Magic Artifacts – Discover ancient magic items including swords that glow when Orcs are near, maps of long-dormant Mithril veins, books with forgotten crafting plans and amulets that give strength or wisdom.
  • Mine Ore and Jewels – Establish mines to unearth deposits of precious resources such as iron, gold, and quartz; and fantastical materials such as Mithril. Access crafting stations and forges to convert ore to ingots and upgrade gear. But be prepared, mining is loud and can awaken what lurks in the darkness.
  • Comprehensive Dwarf Builder – Players become part of Dwarven Legend as they create their own Dwarf in the custom character creator. Dwarves can be customized in a variety of ways to create a unique Dwarven identity. Then, during gameplay, players can find and craft armor and weapons to further enhance their unique style.