Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Recent layoffs at Eidos Montreal were due to the cancellation of the project ‘Wildlands’, an open-world game that had cost the studio hundreds of millions of dollars.
A Deus Ex game was also scrapped in 2024 due to Wildlands taking up most of the budget.
The game was supposed to release this year and was almost complete.
Yesterday, Eidos Montreal announced that it’s going to be cutting 124 jobs from the studio and that the studio head would also be departing after 13 years of service.
Now, it has been revealed that the reason for this layoff is that the studio cancelled two major projects: a Deus Ex game a couple of years ago and P11, amulti-million dollar project that had been in the works for several years.
Why it matters: Game cancellations lead to layoffs and, often, even studio shutdowns. Specifically for Eidos Montreal, it’s unfortunate to see their condition, as they were once regarded as one of the best developers in the industry.
Insider Gaming was tipped off by a source at Eidos Montreal that revealed that the studio cancelled a Deus Ex game in 2024 due to ‘spiraling’ budgets for the project ‘Wildlands’, the title that was shelved just recently and caused yesterday’s layoffs.
Wildlands had been in development since 2019, and the situation was rough. The game switched engines 4 times and had a budget that “exploded well beyond 9 figures.” It was a third-person open-world title featuring a bunch of teenagers as the main characters who wielded magic.
The lead was named ‘River’, and he would have a large moose-esque companion called ‘Redheart’ to traverse through the open world.
The game was almost completed and was in its polishing phase, and was supposed to be released this year. Unfortunately, Embracer Group didn’t have faith in it any longer after throwing so much money at it.
Now, Eidos Montreal is going through a leadership change that will determine the studio’s future.
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Crimson Desert aims to build a fully interactive, living open-world experience rather than just a big map.
The combat system encourages creativity and experimentation instead of repetitive gameplay.
Exploration in the game is driven by curiosity and not map markers.
A mix of game systems, such as crafting, traversal and extreme combat, makes the gameplay varied.
Open-world games are everywhere, but only a few manage to stand out from the rest. Every so often, a new title emerges that promises an experience more ambitious than the rest, promising not only a bigger world but a better one. Crimson Desert, by Pearl Abyss, seems like one of these games that are willing to push boundaries.
A New Contender
At first glance, the game seems to follow a familiar formula: a large fantasy world, a central story, and a mix of combat and exploration. However, the more we see, the clearer it becomes that Crimson Desert is aiming to go beyond the typical open-world experience to encourage player exploration. The developers built a world that feels alive, systems that encourage creativity, and gameplay that doesn’t constantly guide the player.
A World That Feels Alive
A common issue with modern AAA games is that they focus too much on sheer size. When a game decides to go big, it often compromises on other aspects, such as meaningful content. Crimson Desert takes a different approach by focusing on density and interaction rather than just scale.
The Beauty of Crimson Desert – Image Credits (Pinterest)
The game world, dubbed “Pywel,” is filled with diverse regions, including forests, mountain villages, and harsh deserts. More importantly, these areas are not meant to serve only as backdrops. They are designed for interactive spaces such as in Red Dead Redemption 2, where players can hunt, craft, fish and take part in other events.
This level of interaction makes the game a lot more engaging and helps keep the world grounded. Instead of moving from one objective marker to the other, the game encourages players to slow down and interact with their surroundings. This means that each login, playthrough is different, and this shift alone can make a huge difference in how the game feels from moment to moment.
Combat That Encourages Creativity
Combat is another area where Crimson Dessert stands out. Many open-world games rely on repetitive systems where players cycle through the same attacks and abilities. However, in this game, the focus seems to be on flexibility and experimentation. Players can use a wide range of weapons and abilities, but what makes the system more interesting is how it interacts with the environment.
Crimson Desert Combat – Image Credits (Steam)
The game does not limit you to traditional combat methods. You can grab objects, use the terrain to your advantage and approach fights in a different way. This opens the door to emergent gameplay. Instead of approaching every fight the same way, players can experiment and discover new strategies to win, keeping combat fresh and rewarding each time they play.
Exploration That Rewards Curiosity
One of the most promising aspects of Crimson Desert is its approach to exploration. Many modern games use map markers and navigation systems to guide players through the experience. This makes exploration feel more like a checklist and limited. Crimson Desert allows for more organic discovery, where players can roam free and eventually end up in the right place.
Crimson Desert May Be The Next Standard For Open-World Games – Image Credits (Pinterest)
Hidden mechanics, puzzles, and systems are scattered throughout the game’s world without much explanation. Gamers are expected to discover and understand these elements on their own. This design encourages curiosity and makes exploration much more interesting. By doing so, the game builds a stronger connection between the player and the game world, something modern titles often lack.
A Blend of Systems That Add Variety
The game does not rely on a single gameplay loop, which makes for an interesting experience. As is known, the game boasts action combat, exploration, crafting, and large-scale battle systems. Traversal also has a big role in the overall gameplay. Players can ride horses, climb mountains and use different modes of movement to explore the world.
Boss Fight – Image Credits (Steam)
These modes help keep the game dynamic as players shift between different gameplay types. This also reduces repetition, a major issue in modern AAA games. By offering multiple ways to engage with the game world, Crimson Desert keeps players engaged longer, which is exactly why it is the second-highest-rated game of 2026.
Crimson Desert has all the ingredients needed for a major hit. The game offers a rich world, flexible combat and meaningful exploration. More importantly, it feels like a response to players’ growing concerns about modern AAA games. If it lives up to its potential, the game could set a new standard for open-world gameplay experiences.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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The PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix are expected to launch in the next couple of years.
PS6 is rumored to be coming with a 1TB SSD like the PS5, but without any disc drive.
It will also feature a texture compression technology to reduce game sizes.
With the next-gen consoles expected to launch in the next couple of years, the PS6 and Xbox Project Helix are the talk of the town. Amid the memory crisis, a new rumor points towards some key details about Sony’s next console.
A reliable leaker has claimed that the PS6 will ship with a 1TB Gen5 SSD, the same capacity as the PS5’s newer models; however, it won’t feature a disc drive. Additionally, it’ll feature texture compression to keep game sizes down.
Why it matters: The memory crisis has led companies to take extreme measures. If the PS6 indeed launches without a disc drive, it will likely bug a lot of users, who prefer to buy physical discs over digital copies.
The PS6 will feature a 1TB Gen5 SSD with no disc drive
Leaker KeplerL2 has recently revealed that Sony could subsidize the PS6 to keep the cost down and launch it at $699, instead of the rumored $1000. However, they’ll have to take some cost-cutting measures for that.
One of these cost measures will be launching the console with no disc drive. The PS5 already has a digital variant, but you do have the choice of the disc version. The PS6 could offer a separate disc attachment like the PS5 Pro.
The texture compression tech will keep the game sizes down
Additionally, the PS6 SDKs are also expected to feature a new texture compression technology, which will keep the game sizes down to manage space in the 1TB SSD, with game sizes now easily going over 150GB.
While the leaker has a solid track record, treat this report with a grain of salt. The PS6 is still expected to launch somewhere around 2028, so things could change by then. This will depend on the market situation at the time.
What are your thoughts on PS6 featuring a 1 TB SSD with no disc drive and texture compression? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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An Irdeto executive confirms that Denuvo is preparing countermeasures to tackle hypervisor exploits.
Handling hypervisor bypass would be tricky for the DRM, leaving gamers concerned about potential performance downgrades.
However, the executive assures that strengthened security will not impact performance in games.
The sophisticated hypervisor piracy exploits have taken the gaming scene by storm, bypassing aggressive DRM measures by tricking devices into believing that games are running on a legitimate licensed system.
An Irdeto executive now confirms that Denuvo is already preparing enhanced security features to tackle these hypervisor exploits.
Why it matters: Denuvo’s stance against hypervisor exploits is crystal clear since they not only bypass the anti-tamper tech completely but also put your system at significant risk. However, it’s unclear how exactly the DRM software will tackle the new threat for now.
Denuvo is often criticized by gamers for hampering performance.
In an interview with TorrentFreak, Irdeto’s head of communications, Daniel Butschek, also assures gamers that these new security measures will not become a performance hazard for DRM-supported titles.
Regardless, concerns are at an all-time high in the industry, as many gamers already have a bad opinion about the anti-tamper tech.
‘We’re already working on updated security versions for games impacted by hypervisor bypasses. For players, performance will not be compromised by these strengthened security measures.’
-Daniel Butschek, Irdeto’s Head of Communications.
To clarify, hypervisor exploits run below the operating system’s standard security visibility level, a layer called Ring-1. In other words, the key security features of the device that prevent kernel-level malware have to be disabled, which makes them incredibly risky.
The hypervisor bypasses can capture Denuvo’s CPU instructions and feed back false data to make the game think DRM is still playing its role.
These exploits are preferred despite the security risks because they launch hours after a game comes out; hypervisor exploits are easier to perform than cracking traditional DRM-protected games.
Rest assured, the Denuvo executive confirms that hypervisor-based crack workarounds will not need the DRM to move into the aforementioned ‘Ring-1’ or deeper kernel territory. So, it remains to be seen how the new security measures will be implemented.
Do you think these new hypervisor exploits hitting the gaming scene will finally be tackled by Denuvo? Will that milestone come with its own set of performance hurdles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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Marathon receives favorable critics’ reviews but a negative audience score on Metacritic.
The reviews have divided the players, who don’t really know what to expect.
Nonetheless, Bungie has shown a strong commitment to support it for a long time.
Bungie released its next flagship shooter game, Marathon, earlier in March. The expectations weren’t already too high, but people became even more skeptical when its reviews were pushed from early to late March.
Now, both the critics’ and audience review scores are out, and the reception is quite confusing. It has divided the players, as the critical reviews on Metacritic are generally favorable compared to the negative audience score.
Why it matters: The expectations from Bungie’s shooter weren’t too high considering the state of the company and Destiny 2 in recent years. However, the audience score points to a not-so-promising future for the title.
Marathon reviews are highly divided on Metacritic
On Metacritic, Marathon has received a critics’ score of 81, which is considered positive. However, in contrast, the audience score is 5.7, which has somewhat increased, though considering it debuted with just 4.7.
This puts a huge division among the reviews, as this makes it difficult to decide how the game actually plays. One thing that all reviews unanimously agree on is that the idea behind the title is good, with a solid base.
Bungie aims to support its extraction shooter for a long time
The real issue is the execution; while some praise it, others absolutely hate it. They say the learning curve is too big, it seems unfairly hard at times, and the controls aren’t intuitive enough to play it for long.
Notably, most of these issues can be patched out with regular updates if the studio listens to the players, as Pearl Abyss did with Crimson Desert. Bungie has shown intent to support it for a long time, so they could indeed be fixed.
What are your thoughts on Marathon’s divided reviews? Have you given it a go? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Tech reporter says that Disney is interested in buying Epic Games and Fortnite.
The company’s CEO is also a big gaming fan and has previously invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games.
Disney could become a big publisher with all of the IPs and licenses it has.
Fortnite is so big that it is even big outside of the gaming industry, and constant collaborations with other media have made it familiar all across the entertainment sector.
With 100 million monthly active players, Fortnite is one of the biggest games right now and has even attracted Disney, which is now interested in buying out Epic Games alongside Fortnite.
Why it matters: A potential buyout of Epic Games by Disney could impact the entire gaming industry, and, as history shows, big corporations entering the market would only make things worse.
This claim comes from reporter Alex Heath, who has a reputation for getting leaks right, and who discussed Disney’s interest in buying out Epic Games and Fortnite in a new podcast.
I know for a fact that there are senior executives at Disney who want them to buy Epic.
Now, Epic Games isn’t interested in a buyout, but if they ever were, Disney would be the home for them. Alex says that Fortnite would be a natural addition to the company.
Disney’s current CEO, Josh D’Amaro, is also a huge video games fan, and previously, they invested $1.5 billion into Epic Games last year and announced that they’ll work on new content together.
Fortnite has also been seeing a decline in recent times, and Epic Games never really could hold a candle against Steam as a storefront. The publisher/store recently also laid off 1,000 employees, and the current trajectory isn’t looking too good.
Disney, in general, wants to expand its footing into the gaming world. Furthermore, with all the licenses and IP they hold, Disney could become a huge publisher in the market.
Share your thoughts on this story in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums to stay up to date with the latest leaks and rumors in the gaming and tech space.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Neil Druckmann teased a future for The Last of Us series.
He said they had a few more steps remaining.
A potential The Last of Us 3 could come sometime in the middle of the PS6’s lifecycle.
Now, we may have our first tease for the franchise’s future by the creator himself, who posted a cryptic message on social media hinting at something new for the series.
Why it matters: The Last of Us is regarded as one of the best single-player game series with some of the best-written narratives in media as a whole, and as such, fans will be excited to know that a new game in the series is underway.
On Instagram, Neil Druckmann shared the first concept sketches for The Last of Us, reflecting how it has evolved from that point. Later in the caption, he teased at something more for the series, saying “Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead.”
This could obviously mean something new from the franchise, and while the obvious call would be towards the live-action TV show adaptation at HBO, Neil Druckmann has left the show as the showrunner.
Currently, he’s working on Naughty Dog’s next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Beyond that, the studio’s next project would likely be a third Last of Us game.
The Last of Us TV Show Could Extend Beyond The Game’s Events
Multiple insiders and reports have suggested that The Last of Us 3 is Naughty Dog’s next game, but it will be a while before the next entry comes, possibly midway through the PS6’s lifecycle.
As for what story the next entry will follow, it’s unknown. It could very well focus on Ellie’s journey towards redemption and also feature another arc from Abby.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Crimson Desert has now become the 2nd highest user-rated game on Metacritic.
The game’s perception has shifted vastly following a poor launch.
Pearl Abyss has pushed several changes and updates that fixed the faults of the game.
Once thought of as something too good to be true, Crimson Desert suffered from a rough launch, partially due to the game’s immense scale and the developers not being able to finish it in a proper time.
As such, the launch ratings were harsh, and on Steam, the RPG was rated lower than Dragon Age Veilguard. However, public opinion has shifted, and the game has risen to become the 2nd-best user-rated game of 2026 on Metacritic.
Why it matters: It’s surprising to see perceptions of a game change this quickly. Crimson Desert is a decent RPG that was overshadowed by technical and balance issues.
On Metacritic, Crimson Desert has a user score of 8.8, making it the 2nd best user-rated game behind Resident Evil Requiem. However, the Meta score based on critic reviews is just 77, a bit lower in contrast.
Other controversies the game faced were using Generative AI for in-game assets, which the developers took note of later and replaced with human-made art.
Pearl Abyss has also taken note of most of the feedback and pushed several changes that were well received by players. Now, they even plan on adding future DLC expansions and a multiplayer mode.
A multiplayer mode would be fitting, considering the game initially started development as an MMO but was later made into a single-player RPG.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Eidos Montreal has laid off 124 jobs, with the studio head also leaving after nearly 13 years of service.
Now, a new leadership will take over.
The studio faced 2 rounds of layoffs last year and had multiple game cancellations.
Eidos Montreal has certainly seen better days, and the studio once regarded for major contributions towards the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex series is faltering towards an all-time low.
They’ve just announced that they’re cutting 124 jobs at the studio, alongside the departure of head David Anfossi, who had served there for more than a decade.
Why it matters: Ever since Embracer Group’s buyout, Eidos Montreal has been neglected and suffering at the publisher’s hands.
Announcing this decision to downsize on LinkedIn, Eidos Montreal stated that they’re laying off 124 members of staff due to “changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams.”
Studio head David Anfossi is also leaving Eidos Montreal, and he has been in that position since 2013. Now, Eidos Montreal is planning a new leadership and has referred to this state as a ‘transition‘ period.
This isn’t the first layoff Eidos Montreal has had in recent times; they faced 2 rounds of job cuts last year. One report even suggested that a Legacy of Kain reboot was shelved in the same period.
Eidos Montreal’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Deserves More Praise
As for what they’re working on currently, Embracer Group had plans in 2023 to release 5 AAA games between Eidos Montreal and Square Enix by 2028, but so far, we’ve yet to see a single release.
The studio was also working on a Lord of the Rings MMO, but it was also cancelled recently. Now, we’ve discovered that they’re working on a AAAA game based on Unreal Engine 5, which is confirmed not to be a Deus Ex game.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
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NVIDIA’s RTX 60 “Rubin” GPUs are expected to focus on ray and path tracing, with major gains there despite modest traditional performance improvements.
Leaks suggest around 30–35% raw uplift, alongside next-gen Tensor and RT cores and upgraded specs like higher CUDA counts and GDDR7 memory.
DLSS 5 may be exclusive to the lineup, with a late 2027 release window that could slip into 2028 due to supply constraints.
NVIDIA has released new details on what users can expect from NVIDIA’s upcoming GeForce RTX 60 Series, built on the Rubin architecture. While early reports suggest that traditional rasterization performance improvements may be small, a big leap appears in the rendering technologies.
Compared to the Blackwell-based RTX 50 Series, the Rubin lineup is expected to give significant performance improvement in Ray and Path Tracing.
According to recent leaks from RedGamingTech, this indicates a doubling of performance over the GeForce RTX 50 series. However, in terms of “pure” performance, without ray tracing, the improvement is projected to be between 30 and 35%. The leaks also suggest an upgrade to the sixth generation of Tensor Cores and the fifth generation of RT cores.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 6090 would be based on TSMC’s GR202 graphics chip, manufactured in 3nm technology. This graphics chip would contain 24,576 CUDA cores, which is roughly 13% more than the GeForce RTX 5090’s 21,760 cores. The memory configuration would remain intact, with 32GB GDDR7 and a 512-bit interface.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 6080 would have the GR203 chip, 20 GB of GDDR7 memory, and a 320-bit interface. The number of cores is unknown; we do gain extra memory (vs. 16 GB for the RTX 5080) and bandwidth (vs. 256 bits).
Finally, we have the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 6070 with the GR205 graphics chip. This will be combined with 16 GB of GDDR7 RAM and a 256-bit memory bus. Here we are again. We don’t know how many cores are on the device, but there are considerable improvements in memory (12 GB vs. 16 GB compared to the RTX 5070) and bandwidth.
All of these graphics cards are manufactured using the same TSMC process.
Therefore, everything indicates that the new functionality associated withDLSS 5 will only be available on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 60 ‘Rubin’ GPUs. The reason is that the initial public demonstrations of NVIDIA DLSS 5, which deliver ultra-realistic visuals in real time, were performed on systems combining two NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090s.
The explanation is that one RTX 5090 was used to render the game, and the other for the DLSS 5 neural model.
This technology will be much more sustainable, with GPUs that are up to 35% more powerful in terms of IPC and that deliver double the performance when using ray tracing or patch tracing. It’s also worth noting that NVIDIA DLSS 5 is still in early development, with a release date expected later this year.
Aside from the features, the biggest concern right now is when these NVIDIA GeForce RTX 60 series cards will be released. Reports say that they will come in the second half of 2027. However, due to a DRAM memory bottleneck and the rise of AI, these plans may be pushed back until the first half of 2028.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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A new Xbox Games Showcase has finally been announced, taking place on June 7th, 2026.
The showcase is expected to feature ‘first gameplay looks’ at several upcoming titles.
A myriad of first-party and third-party showings are expected, followed by a Gears of War: E-Day Direct.
The current gen began at a snail’s pace, and although Xbox picked up the mantle with several first-party titles since, fans have still been waiting to hear more about many anticipated new gamesthat have been in development for a long time.
A new Xbox Games Showcase has now been announced out of nowhere, set to take place on June 7th, 2026. It is expected to offer ‘first gameplay looks’ and much-awaited news on several first-party and third-party projects from several partners around the globe.
Why it matters: The upcoming event may finally reveal important gameplay and release details for several anticipated first-party titles and possibly a bunch of new projects no one is expecting.
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 has been confirmed for June 7th.
The official blog reveals that the event will go deep into many titles that fans are expecting to see soon, so we might get to see gameplay reveals and launch dates for The Elder Scrolls 6, Fable, and State of Decay 3. The prospect of new first-party and third-party teasers is also exciting gamers.
Additionally, the Xbox Games Showcase will be directly followed up by a deep dive into Gears of War: E-Day in a new exclusive direct. The brand will reveal new details, insights, and gameplay footage for the new game, possibly including a release date.
We’ll begin the day with our annual Xbox Games Showcase, including first gameplay looks and huge news on upcoming titles from our first-party studios across the Xbox family, as well as our third-party partners around the globe.
-Xbox.
The Xbox Games Showcase announcement is already creating a lot of hype.
Moreover, the Xbox FanFest is also returning due to its high demand and to honor the brand’s 25th anniversary under the new leadership of Asha Sharma.
What gameplay looks do you think will be revealed in the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase 2026? Can we expect any new unannounced first-party projects? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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The upcoming AAA The Lord of the Rings title is being developed by Warhorse Studios, the team behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
This news comes from Polish industry expert Ryszard Chojnowski, who said the game will be an open-world RPG with a realistic take on the IP.
Chojnowski said he was initially skeptical about this, but confirmed it from other sources.
Despite being one of the biggest IPs in the world, The Lord of the Rings has had a forgettable few years in the gaming industry. From the unsuccessful Gollum project to the cancelled title from the Tomb Raider developers, the franchise has failed to capitalise on the foundation laid by the Middle-Earth games.
Last year, it was reported that a $100 million third-person title based on the IP was in the works at Embracer Group. Now, according to a Polish video game expert, the studio behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 might be developing this project.
Why it matters: Warhorse has proved multiple times how its RPG world-building is second to none. Hence, it is arguably the perfect choice for The Lord of the Rings.
While speaking on the Tolkien podcast, Polish gaming industry veteran Ryszard Chojnowski revealed that Warhorse Studios is developing the AAA big-budget The Lord of the Rings game for Embracer Group.
[Disclaimer: Interview translated by AI, expect inaccuracies]
Kingdom Come 2 developers, Warhorse Studios, are reportedly working on a huge $100 million Lord of the Rings game. This would be a massive shift from their historical roots but fits perfectly within the Embracer Group’s portfolio.
According to the industry expert, this title is being developed as an open-world RPG with a realistic take on the IP and is a perfect fit for the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 studio due to its expertise in crafting medieval game worlds.
Chojnowski also stated that this is a logical collaboration as Warhorse is owned by Embracer Group. Furthermore, as revealed earlier, the upcoming game will have a $100 million budget funded by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
This title will be developed as an open-world RPG.
The Polish industry veteran also disclosed that he was initially skeptical about this information, but confirmed it from other sources before revealing it on the podcast.
Ryszard Chojnowski has worked with Polish gaming studios since 1996, working with CD Projekt Red and other publishers like Blizzard, EA, and Ubisoft in localization efforts. Hence, the expert’s opinion is credible, but only time will tell which studio is working on The Lord of the Rings.
Do you think Warhorse is the right choice for a Lord of the Rings project? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
