British model God Almighty Games Workshop is best known for itsWarhammergames , thefar - flung future of40Kand the fantastical trapping ofAge of Sigmarand its predecessors . But since 2001 the party has also been position out the jolly - damn - fantasticLord of the Ringsminiatures game , base on the Peter Jackson flick trilogy and eventually theHobbitfilms . Now , it ’s on the precipice of a brand new edition … one that will fetch miniatures from the first in-between - ground movie sinceBattle of the Five Armies .

Games Workshopconfirmed today that a new edition of the Middle - earth Strategy Battle Game ( MESBG , as it ’s been have intercourse since the addition of sect from theHobbittrilogy ) is coming soon , the first for the game since its last major overhaul in 2018 . As well as fresh update to its ruleset and its current junto across bothLord of the RingsandThe Hobbit , the unexampled version will bring with it brand new role model , inspire by the approaching invigorate movieWar of the Rohirrim .

While details are still under wraps — especially consider that we have barely see much of the film at all , despite it being in dramatic art at the end of this yr — it marks the first time the tabletop game has had Modern license stuff to absorb on for miniatures since the release of the finalHobbitfilm in 2014 . MESBG operates in a particularly weird niche of the alreadyweird interconnected systems of certify rightsthat isLord of the Ringsin the first place . Games Workshop ’s deal covers both material from the Warner Bros / New Line moving-picture show and Tolkien ’s books through a partnership with Middle - earth Enterprises , which was buy from original rights holder Saul Zaentz by theentertainment conglomerate Embracer Groupin 2022 .

Games Workshop Middle Earth Sbg Rohan Eomer

© Games Workshop

Embracer maintained that licensing deal in the conversion , but it means that Games Workshop has n’t been able-bodied to touch adaptation likeThe Rings of Powerso far . Those rights are part of a disjoined bargain Amazon Studios made direct with the Tolkien Estate in 2017 , and thus a novel attempt to comprise optic imagery or show - specific versions of characters like Galadriel , Gil - Galad , or Elrond ( who already all appear in various chassis in MESBG free-base on their cinematic appearances ) would want a new deal . The confirmation that Games Workshop can recreate withWar of the Rohirrimlikely stand for that , should any of them actually go on going forward , Warner Bros. ’ plans for newLord of the Ringsmovies — likeAndy Serkis’Hunt for Gollum — could similarly become approachable to the model makers .

It ’s an exciting time then for one of Games Workshop ’s unsung , but fascinating , tabletop franchises . No doubt we ’ll discover out more of its program for the center - earth Strategy Battle Game the nearer we get to the launching of the late variation , presumably sometime afterward this twelvemonth ahead ofWar of the Rohirrim‘s release in December .

Want more io9 news ? Check out when to look the latestMarvel , Star Wars , andStar Trekreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on film and TV , and everything you want to know about the future ofDoctor Who .

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Games WorkshopLord of the RingsMiddle - earth Strategy Battle Game

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