[Grisham]

The gaming rights for several J.R.R Tolkien works, including The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit, are about to come up for auction.

According to Variety, Saul Zaentz Co. is about to sell Tolkien holdings that it has owned since 1976, meaning that rights pertaining to Tolkien properties are about to be up for grabs.

The auction is also set to include the rights to merchandising, movies and live events such as theme parks in addition to games.

While the gaming rights for Tolkien's properties are not exclusive to this deal, it could see developers and publishers in with a chance of acquiring the rights to one of the most popular fantasy IPs.

Warner already holds certain rights due to its ownership of New Line Cinema, which produced Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Warner has also made several games inspired by the works, most recently the Middle Earth: Shadow series.

Daedalic Entertainment also has access to the IP; the German developer is currently working on Gollum, due to release sometime in 2022.

Amazon was slated to release an MMO based in the Lord of the Rings universe, but the project was scrapped in April last year due to failed negotiations between Amazon and Tencent.

Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit gaming rights up for sale

The gaming rights for several J.R.R Tolkien works, including The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit, are about to come up…

www.gamesindustry.biz

 

[Snes nes]

how much are they going for? I got money in my piggy bank.

 

[GreyHorace]

I'd kill for a new CRPG set in Middle Earth. A shame that Larian is too busy with Baldur's Gate 3. If I had the money I'd hire them to do it.

 

[ManofTwo]

id buy that for a dolllar

 

[Snes nes]

id buy that for a dolllar

worth more than that at least to me i like those books.

 

[Mickmrly]

The way the article is written, it could mean that whoever buys the gaming rights will have to negotiate with Warner bros to release movie tie in games. Not to mention EA who made most of the games. I just want to play battle for middle earth again… ㅠㅠ

 

[mcz117chief]

id buy that for a dolllar

I came for this and was not disappointed

 

[Vow]

Amazon should buy it and make all the Elves black and Gandalf a genderqueer non-binary person.

 

[GreyHorace]

The way the article is written, it could mean that whoever buys the gaming rights will have to negotiate with Warner bros to release movie tie in games. Not to mention EA who made most of the games. I just want to play battle for middle earth again… ㅠㅠ

I love the LOTR movie trilogy (The Hobbit trilogy not so much), but I'd like it if a new Tolkien game didn't follow the visual identity of Peter Jackson's films.

Make a game based on the books and with approval of the Tolkien Estate.

Amazon should buy it and make all the Elves black and Gandalf a genderqueer non-binary person.

 

[The Bloody Nine]

What's the best game set in Middle Earth?

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

Amazon should buy it and make all the Elves black and Gandalf a genderqueer non-binary person.

J.R.R. Woken

 

[HE1NZ]

What's the best game set in Middle Earth?

The Battle for Middle-Earth