EA Announces New Lord of the Rings Mobile RPG

Electronic Arts has announced a partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises to develop a new free mobile game based on The Lord of the Rings.

The game, titled The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth, is a collectible role-playing game that brings Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings fantasy into a “strategic and socially competitive experience” on mobile devices. EA revealed that Heroes of Middle-Earth is the latest addition to its expanding mobile portfolio and will be developed by EA’s Capital Games, creators of Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.

“We are thrilled to be working with Saul Zaentz Company and Middle-earth Enterprises on the next generation of mobile role-playing games,” said Malachi Boyle, EA’s Vice President of Mobile RPGs in his press release. “The team is full of fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, bringing together tremendous passion and talent every day to provide players with an authentic experience. The combination of high-fidelity graphics, cinematic animation and stylized art plunges players into the fantasy of Middle-earth, where they battle their favorite characters head-to-head.”

EA says Heroes of Middle-Earth will feature “immersive storytelling, turn-based combat, an in-depth collection system, and a variety of characters from the vast worlds of The Lord of the Rings and *The Hobbit**.” The company says players will battle through the iconic story of the world of Tolkien as they battle the mighty evils of Middle-earth.

“Electronic Arts has a well-known relationship with the world of Tolkien for providing PC and console titles based on the Lord of the Rings books and movies,” states the press release. “In active development by a team of veteran experts in the mobile RPG genre, Capital Games – The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth is the first mobile game developed by EA, inspired by the storyline, location, characters and knowledge of . The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit literature.”

EA expects the game to enter limited regional beta testing this summer, and says Heroes of Middle-Earth will require a persistent internet connection to play. According to the press release, the game will also feature in-game purchases, including random items.