An on-line co-op Lord of the Rings game is coming from the individuals who personal Warframe

There’s a brand new Lord of the Rings game coming. Publisher Athlon Games has entered right into a “long-term licensing agreement” with Middle-earth Enterprises, the corporate which manages the rights to J.R.R. Tolkein’s works, beginning with an internet game that may function a prequel to The Lord of the Rings, showcasing an entire host of latest additions to the world.

Athlon is working with an unnamed “partner developer” on the game, which in accordance with writer shall be set “at a time long before the events of The Lord of the Rings, exploring lands, people and creatures never seen before by fans of the Tolkien universe.”

The upcoming Amazon TV collection can also be set to be a prequel, and although it’s not explicitly talked about within the press release, it’s probably there’ll be room for crossover between the present and the game.

If you’re questioning what the deal is with Athlon Games, the outfit is a subsidiary of Leyou Tech Holding, established final 12 months. Leyou, in flip, is the dad or mum firm that owns Warframe dev Digital Extremes in addition to Splash Damage – you might also bear in mind Leyou because the Chinese chicken company which diversified into videogames.

Athlon president Dave Miller was previously VP of world model advertising and marketing at Warner Bros. Interactive, and says the corporate’s aim is creating “creating AAA cooperative console and PC experiences that gamers will want to play for years to come.” The studio additionally lists free-to-play growth as one in all its core focuses.

That give attention to free-to-play cooperative growth might recommend one thing much like Warframe, and it will make sense for Leyou to construct an organization for such initiatives given the success of Digital Extremes’ shooter over the previous 12 months particularly. It’s additionally attainable that this may very well be a correct follow-up to the now decade-old Lord of the Rings Online, however this press launch and Athlon’s web site notably avoids any point out of MMO growth, regardless of its give attention to on-line titles.