Middle-earth mourns another lost tale. A Reddit post on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours shares MP1st’s exclusive leak of Eidos-Montreal’s canceled Lord of the Rings game, complete with 3D renders and concept art. Described as a Telltale-style narrative card battler set in the shadowy port of Umbar, it fell victim to Embracer Group’s endless restructures and layoffs. Fans glimpse a fresh spin on Tolkien’s world that never saw daylight.
The Leaked Artwork Breakdown
MP1st reveals detailed shots: Dark harbors of Umbar bustling with Corsairs, Easterling spies, and Haradrim warriors. Card-based combat mixed choice-driven stories, echoing Telltale’s The Walking Dead or Tales from the Borderlands. Factions clashed in deck-building duels, with voiced narratives weaving political intrigue and Easterling-Haradrim tensions.
Visuals pop with Unreal Engine polish – misty docks, ornate armor, glowing runes on battle cards. Early prototype stage meant rough edges, but ambition shone through. Leaker notes 20+ devs shifted post-cancel, tying to Kojima’s OD brief stint before Japan relocation demands killed that too.
Why Eidos Canceled It
Embracer’s 2022 Square Enix buyout gifted LOTR rights, sparking quick cash-ins. But post-$2B deal flop, waves of cuts hit: Deus Ex axed (2024), more layoffs (2025 x2), internal projects like P11 slimmed for Fable/Grounded 2 support. This Umbar card game, internally P22, died early amid ‘six-ish’ scrubs over years per Tom Henderson.
Studio pivots to co-dev on Playground’s Fable reboot and Obsidian’s Grounded 2 early access. LOTR hopes shift to Warhorse Studios rumors, but Eidos’ take blended cards and story uniquely.
Timeline of Eidos Woes
- 2022: Embracer grabs Eidos, Tomb Raider, LOTR rights.
- 2024: Deus Ex canceled, 97 layoffs.
- 2025 Mar: 75 more cuts.
- 2025 Dec: Latest layoffs leak LOTR card game, sci-fi stealth project.
- 2026 Feb: MP1st pics surface Umbar renders.
- Future: Fable, Grounded 2 focus; P11 eyes 2026 beta.
| Project | Genre | Fate | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOTR Umbar | Card Battler/Narrative | Canceled Early | Telltale-style, Factions |
| Deus Ex New | RPG | Canceled 2024 | 2 Years Pre-Prod |
| P11 | TBA | Active, Beta Soon | 2026 Launch |
| Fable Support | RPG | Ongoing | Co-Dev Playground |
What Could Have Been
Umbar’s underused lore – Sauron’s naval hub, Black Numenoreans – begged exploration. Card combat with branching stories could rival Marvel Snap meets Witcher choices. Pics show Haradrim elephants, Easterling blades, deep-sea beasts. Embracer’s LOTR spree continues via other studios, but Eidos’ narrative chops shine in these ghosts.
Fans split: Cool concept saved from flop, or missed gem? Ties to Kojima OD cancel add irony – devs bounced for Japan visas.
FAQs
What was the LOTR game?
Card battler with Telltale narrative in Umbar.
Why canceled?
Embracer layoffs/restructure; early prototype.
Artwork real?
MP1st leak via ex-dev sources.
Eidos future?
Fable/Grounded 2 co-dev, P11 internal.
Other LOTR games?
Warhorse rumors; Embracer pushes IP.
Deus Ex next?
No plans post-cancel.
Layoffs count?
100s across 2024-2025 waves.
Final Thoughts
Eidos’ LOTR leak tantalizes with Umbar’s shadows, but Embracer’s axe dulls the blade. Cards and stories could have enchanted, yet survival favors Fable aid. Middle-earth endures – which canceled gem stings most? Share below.