Private Division Partners with Weta Workshop for New Lord of the Rings Game

Weta Workshop, renowned for its work in special effects on films like Dune and Avatar, as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is developing a Middle-Earth game in collaboration with Private Division, a label under Take-Two. Established in 2014, Weta's games development division is now working on its inaugural major title. The game, set in the Middle-Earth universe, has been granted the broadest creative licence to interpret the underlying lore of Tolkien's books. According to Amie Wolken, Weta's head of interactive, 'It's a privilege to create a new game set in Middle-earth, especially one that's so different from what fans have played previously.' The game is currently in early development, with an expected launch during Take-Two's Fiscal Year 2024. This partnership is significant for Private Division, which has primarily focused on indie titles and AA-style games. Take-Two's chief strategy officer, Michael Worosz, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, 'The Lord of the Rings IP is home to so many remarkable stories, and no entity is better equipped than the team at Weta Workshop to create a distinctive, new Middle-earth gaming experience.' The announcement precedes the release of Amazon Prime's new series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Daedalic's upcoming game, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which was delayed until next year.