Aspyr has hinted that The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition could be the first of several classic Middle-earth games returning to modern platforms.
The surprise return of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North has already given fans of classic Middle-earth gaming something to celebrate.
Now, it appears there could be considerably more on the way.
Aspyr, the publisher behind the new War in the North – Legacy Edition, has confirmed that fans can look forward to “even more classic releases” from The Lord of the Rings franchise in the future. The statement appeared in the release information for War in the North, making it the first clear indication that the game could be the beginning of a wider revival. (Push Square)
There is one important caveat: Aspyr has not announced which games are coming next.
That leaves plenty of room for speculation — and quite a few classic Lord of the Rings games that fans would love to see return.
War in the North could be the beginning
War in the North – Legacy Edition arrived as something of a surprise, bringing the 2011 action RPG to modern platforms after years of being difficult to access.
The new edition is the first The Lord of the Rings title released by Aspyr, according to the company’s release information, and the publisher’s reference to additional classic releases strongly suggests that it isn’t intended to be a one-off project. (Push Square)
For players who grew up with the games released alongside Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films, the possibilities are particularly exciting.
The Two Towers and Return of the King would be obvious choices
Two of the most requested games are The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Both were released during the PlayStation 2 era and offered fast-paced action built around some of the most memorable battles from the films.
The Helm’s Deep sequence in particular remains one of the standout moments remembered by players, while Return of the King expanded the formula with additional characters, locations and co-operative gameplay.
Neither game has been announced for a modern release.
However, their popularity means they are almost certain to be among the first titles fans mention whenever the possibility of a classic Lord of the Rings revival is raised.
The Third Age could be another perfect candidate
Another game receiving considerable attention from fans is The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age.
Unlike the movie-focused action games, The Third Age was a turn-based RPG that allowed players to explore Middle-earth through an original adventure taking place alongside the events of the films.
It remains one of the more distinctive Lord of the Rings games from that era.
A modern version could introduce the game to an entirely new audience while giving existing fans the opportunity to revisit one of the franchise’s more unusual adaptations.
Community reaction to Aspyr’s tease has already shown strong interest in The Third Age, with players repeatedly naming it alongside The Two Towers and Return of the King as games they’d like to see return. (Push Square)
Battle for Middle-earth could be the biggest request
Then there is The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth.
The real-time strategy series has developed a particularly loyal following, and the original games remain difficult to access through conventional modern storefronts.
That makes a modern release particularly attractive.
Fans discussing Aspyr’s announcement have repeatedly called for Battle for Middle-earth and its sequel to return, alongside The Third Age and Return of the King. (Reddit)
However, there is a significant difference between fan demand and an actual announcement.
Aspyr has not confirmed Battle for Middle-earth, The Third Age, The Two Towers or Return of the King.
For now, they remain possibilities rather than forthcoming releases.
Conquest could also make a comeback
Another interesting candidate is The Lord of the Rings: Conquest.
Originally released in 2009, Conquest took the franchise in a different direction, offering large-scale battles inspired by the Battlefront formula.
Its multiplayer focus and large battles could potentially translate particularly well to modern hardware.
Again, there has been no announcement that Conquest is among the games Aspyr is working on.
But its name has already appeared repeatedly in community discussions following the War in the North announcement. (Reddit)
Why this matters now
The timing of Aspyr’s announcement is particularly interesting.
For years, a number of older Lord of the Rings games have been difficult to access because of the complicated licensing arrangements surrounding games based on Tolkien’s world and the film adaptations.
War in the North itself disappeared from Steam before its surprise return, making the new Legacy Edition a significant step towards preserving and restoring an older Middle-earth game for modern audiences. (PC Gamer)
If Aspyr can successfully bring more of these games back, it could give an entire generation of players access to titles that have effectively been locked away on older hardware.
Fans already have their wish lists ready
The response from the gaming community has been remarkably consistent.
The Two Towers, Return of the King, The Third Age and Battle for Middle-earth are among the names appearing repeatedly in discussions following Aspyr’s announcement. (Reddit)
There is also enthusiasm for Conquest and The Hobbit, while some fans would prefer complete remakes rather than straightforward remasters.
That distinction could become important if Aspyr does announce further projects.
A simple resolution upgrade might be enough for some games, while others could benefit from improved controls, modern online functionality, quality-of-life features and accessibility options.
What comes next?
For now, War in the North – Legacy Edition is the only classic Lord of the Rings release officially announced by Aspyr.
But the publisher’s wording is difficult to ignore.
“Even more classic releases” means there is something else planned, although the identity, platforms and release dates of those games remain unknown. (GamesRadar+)
That leaves Middle-earth fans with plenty to speculate about.
And with War in the North now available on modern hardware, the first question is no longer whether classic Lord of the Rings games can return.
It is which one comes next?
Tech Torque verdict
The return of War in the North has suddenly opened the door to a much more interesting possibility: a proper revival of classic Lord of the Rings gaming.
Aspyr has not revealed its plans, so it would be premature to claim that The Two Towers, Return of the King, The Third Age or Battle for Middle-earth are coming.
But the publisher has clearly signalled that War in the North isn’t necessarily the end of the story.
For fans who grew up playing these games, that’s enough to get excited about.
Now we’re waiting to see what Aspyr pulls out of Middle-earth next.
