“We Get Really Excited”: LotR: Heroes of Middle-earth Dev on New Lore [EXCLUSIVE]

A developer behind The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth revealed in a recent interview that the new mobile game will have extensive possibilities when it comes to lore and storytelling. A collaboration between EA Capital Games and Middle-earth Enterprises, Heroes of Middle-earth is a collectible fighting RPG where players can gather their favorite characters together to fight against evil. Thanks to a brand-new ring that allows the protagonist to control fighters across timelines, there are a myriad of never-before-seen opportunities when it comes to crossovers and narrative.

In a recent interview between Screen Rant and Nicolas Reinhart, Game Director of The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth, the developer revealed how the title’s unique mechanics allow for exciting new lore. Several updates are already planned for the game, with a large focus on what if scenarios that explore alternate versions of events fans are familiar with. Check out the full quote below:

Nicolas Reinhart: We get really excited about it, a lot of what we’re trying to think about in regards to the what if timelines and the way we think about it internally is: there are key decisions that are made that are not always centered around the ring. There’s also people who did or did not do a thing, and how would those things be different? So asking the question, like, what if Isildur didn’t toss the ring? How would things be different? What would have happened to evil and how would it have changed over time? So it’s not always simple.

Anyway, that’s another example of the One Ring. Here’s another one I think that’s interesting: what if Balin hadn’t died when he was reclaiming Moria? That’s an interesting one for us, too, like, what would that have looked like? Or what if Smaug had died earlier, what would the realm have been like? I think there are lots of questions that change the overall tenor and tone of the entire game and the way you experience those stories.

Related: “This Isn’t Just The Surface-Level Lore” – Nicolas Reinhart on LotR: Heroes of Middle-earth

More About LotR: Heroes Of Middle-earth’s Lore Potential

While there have been many worthwhile games based on The Lord of the Rings released over the years, they’ve largely focused on existing lore from the source material. With Heroes of Middle-earth, fans will finally be able to design their own crossovers and narratives and see the ripple effect of changes made across timelines. Characters that never had a chance to interact before due to living ages apart will be able to join the same squad and fight alongside one another, allowing for powerful and exciting new combinations.

With several releases planned based around the series coming soon, a new era of Lord of the Rings video games has begun. Heroes of Middle-earth manages to set itself apart from this roster through its extensive narrative capabilities, letting players explore scenarios they’ve always wondered about. Considering there are several updates set to come that will expand on these ideas even more, it looks as though fans have a lot to look forward to when it comes to The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth is available today, May 10, for iOS and Android devices.