Hey everyone, interesting stuff is bubbling in the LOTR universe: according to sources, there’s a new Lord of the Rings game in development—and it might be getting a major financial boost from none other than the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). We’re talking roughly $100 million in funding, give or take, if everything finalizes.
What makes this especially surprising is how quickly things seem to have shifted. The game has already been in internal development, but ADIO’s involvement came later—with the deal having been in the works since last year. It hasn’t been officially signed yet, but insiders say it could go through very soon.
As for what kind of game it might be: think third-person action with big ambitions. The whisper is that it’s being designed to stack up against titles like Hogwarts Legacy—which means open areas, cinematic moments, perhaps deep story and exploration, not just shooting or combat.
This interest from Abu Dhabi isn’t coming out of nowhere. Over the past year or two, ADIO has shown growing interest in gaming, esports, and creative media. For example:
ADIO has invested in NIP Group, a gaming/esports/entertainment outfit, with plans for creative studios, global headquarter presence in Abu Dhabi, and talent development.
They’ve also supported Tamatem Games, a publisher of mobile games geared toward Arabic-language audiences, helping them relocate to Abu Dhabi and invest in local talent, university partnerships, and trade opportunities.
Putting this together: Abu Dhabi seems to be trying to build itself up as a global gaming/entertainment hub, and backing a huge LOTR project fits that strategy. For fans, this could mean we’re looking at something high-profile that might also bring in elements of cultural storytelling, big budgets, and modern tech.
Of course, take this with a grain of salt. None of this is confirmed yet, official details are scarce, and game development can shift fast. But if it comes together, LOTR fans might finally have a big cinematic fantasy game to get excited about.
