EA's Lord Of The Rings Game Has Everyone Saying The Same Thing

To date, fewer fantasy stories have been as lauded or as beloved as J.R.R. Tolken's "The Lord of the Rings." The epic three-volume series was adapted into a trilogy of critically acclaimed films in the early 2000s, spawning a further expansion of the already loyal fanbase. Since then, "The Lord of the Rings" has been adapted or expanded upon with further releases including "Middle-earth"-branded video games and the still-unreleased "Gollum" game. And now, fans have learned that another video game adaptation of the fantasy series will soon be brought to market.

According to a new press release, EA will soon be releasing a mobile game based on series, "The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth." Made in partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises, the game will be developed by EA Capitol and act as a collectible role-playing game "that brings the fantasy and adventure of 'The Lord of the Rings' to existing fans and new audiences alike in a strategic, social-competitive experience." As of right now, no formal release date has been disclosed. What is known, however, is that "The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth" is intended to enter "limited regional beta testing" at some point this summer. Additionally, it's clear that fans are less than enthusiastic about the announcement.

Though many "Lord of the Rings" fans will certainly be curious enough to give the game a look when it's finally released, EA's shady reputation has been a cause of concern for many. In response to a tweet from Polygon regarding this latest development, Twitter user @OfProjections wasn't too thrilled with the announcement. "We all know the games will be broken and full of bugs and micro-transactions at launch," they said of EA's latest foray into the mobile market. Other Twitter users seemed rather disinterested in the announcement and instead asked for a remake of EA's fan favorite adaptation of "The Return of the King."

On Reddit, comments didn't seem to suggest any more enthusiasm. Reddit user u/2Scribble was underwhelmed at EA's first "Lord of the Rings" title in 13 years being a mobile game. "They finally get the 'LOTR' license back ... And this is what they do with it?" 2Scribble asked. "This is even more embarrassing than the Diablo Immortal reveal." 

On the official "LOTR" subreddit, things aren't looking much better. "Ah just what we needed – a cash grab mobile," Redditor @Cornivoran88 said. Other commenters expressed disappointment at the announcement of a mobile game in lieu of a AAA console game. Fans will simply have to wait and see if "Heroes of Middle-earth" turns out the way they expect.