Indie developer Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games will be releasing their co-op survival crafting title, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, on Oct. 24 on PlayStation 5 digitally and Windows PC via Epic Games Store, IGN can exclusively reveal today.
For those disappointed by its digital-only release in October, don’t worry: a physical release for the PS5 will come on Dec. 5. As for when it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, we don’t yet have a date for that other than early 2024.
As the title alludes, Return to Moria will put a focus on the Dwarves of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy world, following them as the embark on a quest to reclaim and restore the glory of their homeland during the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. Players will create their own custom Dwarf, and venture into the Mines of Moria either alone or in the company of fellow Dwarves online.
And as a survival crafting game, Return to Moria will no doubt make use of the Dwarves’ legend inventiveness as they delve into the labyrinthine mine known for producing the extremely resilient mineral of mithril.
“As they venture ever deeper,” Free Range and North Beach tease, “the Dwarves will need to ensure their metal is ready to meet the dangers that lie within, crafting resilient armors and finely honed weapons capable of protecting against and defeating all manner of goblin, arachnoid, or more mysterious foes they may encounter.”
Today’s reveal of the release date is just the latest drip of information about The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. Free Range and North Beach most recently revealed a story trailer during Summer Game Fest, where they also announced that it would be debuting this fall.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.