A huge immersive RPG—but which one?
From the cobblestone streets of medieval Bohemia to whatever world comes next, Warhorse Studios has quietly confirmed that its creative ambitions are already in motion. Following the successful completion of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its full DLC cycle, the Prague-based studio finds itself at a crossroads familiar to any craftsman who has mastered one form and must now choose whether to deepen or expand. The question of whether that next work is a third chapter in their own saga or a stewardship of one of literature's most beloved mythologies speaks to a larger truth about creative studios: success does not simplify the path forward — it multiplies it.
- Warhorse Studios has officially acknowledged a major RPG in development, but the deliberate silence around its identity has turned a confirmation into a riddle.
- Two competing rumors are pulling the conversation in opposite directions — a safe but beloved Kingdom Come 3 versus a bold, franchise-defining leap into Lord of the Rings territory.
- Series creator Daniel Vávra's pivot toward film and television adaptation of Kingdom Come introduces a real tension around where the studio's creative gravity actually lies.
- The studio's reputation for uncompromising first-person immersion makes it a credible candidate for either path, but credibility and capacity are not the same thing.
- Until an official announcement breaks the silence, the gaming world is left watching a studio at the height of its powers decide what kind of studio it wants to become.
Warhorse Studios has confirmed it is deep in development on what content director Ondřej Bittner described as a "huge immersive RPG" — a statement offered in a Reddit exchange that answered one question while opening several more. The studio had just wrapped its full downloadable content cycle for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which launched in early 2025 to strong commercial reception, making the question of what comes next feel both natural and urgent.
Two possibilities have taken shape in the speculation. The first is Kingdom Come 3, a continuation of the historical medieval franchise that has earned Warhorse a devoted and growing audience. The second is more unexpected: rumors circulating since late April suggest the studio may be developing an RPG set in the world of Lord of the Rings. Such a project would mark a significant departure from historical realism, but it would map cleanly onto the studio's core strengths — first-person immersion, environmental weight, and a commitment to making the player feel genuinely inside a world rather than above it.
A complication lingers in the background. Daniel Vávra, the creator of the Kingdom Come series, has recently redirected significant attention toward developing a film and television adaptation of the franchise. His divided focus raises honest questions about creative leadership and resource allocation — particularly if the studio is simultaneously managing a third game in its own series and a potential high-stakes fantasy IP.
What the success of Deliverance 2 makes clear is that there is real appetite for whatever Warhorse builds next. Players have demonstrated loyalty to the studio's particular brand of demanding, immersive design. Whether that design is next applied to Bohemia or Middle-earth, the announcement — whenever it arrives — will be closely watched.
Warhorse Studios has confirmed it's working on something big. In a Reddit exchange, the studio's content director Ondřej Bittner acknowledged the team is deep into development of what he called "a huge immersive RPG," though he stopped short of naming it. The studio had just finished shipping all the downloadable content for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which arrived in early 2025 to strong commercial success, so the question of what comes next has been hanging in the air.
Two possibilities have emerged, and both have merit. The first is straightforward: Kingdom Come 3, a continuation of the medieval franchise that has built a devoted audience. The second is more tantalizing. Since late April, rumors have circulated that Warhorse might be developing an RPG set in the world of Lord of the Rings—a project that would represent a significant departure from the studio's historical medieval wheelhouse but would align perfectly with its proven expertise in first-person immersive design.
Warhorse has the credentials for such an undertaking. The studio built its reputation on Kingdom Come: Deliverance by committing to historical authenticity and first-person immersion in ways that felt fresh and demanding. A Lord of the Rings game built in that same mold—grounded, detailed, first-person—would offer something the franchise has not yet seen. The studio's track record suggests it could pull off the shift from historical realism to high fantasy without losing the texture and weight that makes its games distinctive.
But there's a complication. Daniel Vávra, who created the Kingdom Come series, has recently shifted his focus toward developing a film and television adaptation of the medieval franchise. His divided attention raises a legitimate question about studio priorities. If Vávra and his team are splitting energy between a third Kingdom Come game and something else entirely, which project gets the resources? Which one gets the creative leadership?
The success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its subsequent DLC releases suggests there is genuine appetite for more of what Warhorse makes. Players have shown they want the studio's particular brand of immersive, uncompromising design. A third entry in the series would almost certainly find an audience. Yet the Lord of the Rings rumor persists, and it's not hard to see why. If you were assembling a short list of studios capable of handling one of the world's most valuable fantasy properties, Warhorse would belong on it.
For now, Bittner's statement is all the studio is offering: confirmation of work on something substantial, and nothing more. The mystery will likely persist until an official announcement arrives. What's clear is that whatever Warhorse chooses to build next, the gaming world will be watching.
Citas Notables
We are hard at work on something. Obviously we cannot disclose any details but I can share that it is a huge immersive RPG.— Ondřej Bittner, Warhorse Studios content director
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why would Warhorse be a fit for Lord of the Rings when they've never made anything but historical medieval games?
Because immersion is immersion. They've spent years perfecting first-person design, environmental storytelling, and the feeling of actually inhabiting a world. That skill transfers. A Lord of the Rings game in their hands would feel lived-in, not polished.
But doesn't the shift to film and TV suggest they're moving away from games?
Not necessarily away—maybe just divided. Vávra can develop a TV show and still oversee a game. The real question is whether the studio has the bandwidth to do both well, or whether one becomes the priority.
If it is Kingdom Come 3, does that feel like a safe choice?
Safe, yes. But Kingdom Come 2 was a smash hit. Players want more. There's nothing wrong with giving them what they're asking for.
What would a Lord of the Rings game from Warhorse actually look like?
Probably not what you'd expect. No grand cinematic moments. Just you, walking through Middle-earth in first person, dealing with the weight of the world around you. Slower. More grounded. More real.
Is the mystery itself part of the marketing?
Possibly. But Bittner's statement sounds genuine—he's constrained by NDAs, not playing coy. The studio genuinely can't say what it is yet.