New Lord of The Rings Online Expansion Revealed

Exciting news for elves, dwarves, hobbits and humans – The latest expansion to the popular online MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, will be available to play from 1^st November 2023. The Corsairs of Umbar will take players to the mysterious southern shores of Middle Earth, which lie far to the south of Gondor, and the surrounding lands fans will remember from the film and book series.

With the latest expansion on the horizon, many long-time and returning players will be looking to reforge their swords from the ashes, pick up their bow, and journey once more to the lands of Middle Earth. Will you be among them?

What Is The Lord of the Rings Online?

The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy world. Developed by Turbine, Inc. (now known as Standing Stone Games), LOTRO has a rich history that spans more than a decade in the gaming world.

LOTRO was officially released in April 2007 and quickly gained a dedicated player base. Set in the fictional realm of Middle-earth, the game faithfully recreates the landscapes and lore from Tolkien’s books. Players can create characters from various races, including Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits, and embark on epic adventures to protect Middle-earth from the forces of darkness. The game’s initial success was attributed to its immersive storytelling and the faithful recreation of Tolkien’s world. It followed the original narrative closely, with players undertaking quests, battling iconic enemies, and visiting legendary locations such as The Shire, Rivendell, Moria, and Minas Tirith, weaving each area into the overarching storyline from the trilogy.

Over the years, the game received numerous expansions that expanded the game world, introducing new regions, epic storylines, and additional character classes. The most popular releases included Mines of Moria (2008), Rise of Isengard (2011), Riders of Rohan (2012), Helm’s Deep (2013), Mordor (2017), and Before the Shadow (2022).

In 2010, the game transitioned to a free-to-play model with a cash shop, allowing players to access much of the content without a subscription. This change attracted new players and sustained the existing community.

What Is The Corsairs of Umbar About?

The news that Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) fans can prepare for a new expansion in 2023 is a testament to the longevity of this famous MMORPG.

The latest addition to the vast online world will take players to enigmatic shores known for their sea-faring Corsairs (essentially pirates). Gamers can expect plenty of swashbuckling adventures in a lawless land of adventure, fame, fortune and danger. Check out the pre-purchase trailer here!

Umbar, often called the Haven of Umbar, was a significant port city overlooking the Great Sea in Middle-earth. It was initially settled by the Númenóreans, making it a crucial maritime and trading hub and a land of noble history and tradition. Nevertheless, it eventually fell under the sway of the Corsairs, a group of renegades and pirates who opposed Gondor. During the game’s expansion, Umbar has become a land of conflict between its sea-faring natives and the restored Kingdom of Gondor, led by King Aragorn II Elessar.

Umbar’s history embodies Middle-earth’s complex political and cultural landscape, reflecting the tensions between the descendants of Númenor and those who sought power and wealth through piracy and dark alliances. The struggles and shifting allegiances in Umbar contribute to the rich tapestry of Tolkien’s fictional world, and we can’t wait to see how the new expansion will explore this with over 350 new story-based quests.

The new expansion will also introduce the new Mariner class, a sea-shanty singing warrior with innovative light weaponry tactics and the ability to draw on the mysterious powers of the sea – check out the new class reveal video here.

Is There Lord of the Rings LEGO?

In 2012, LEGO teamed up with Warner Bros. to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic Middle-earth to life in brick form. This partnership resulted in a series of sets based on Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, although the theme was discontinued in 2015.

On 5^th March 2023, The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell 103416 was revealed to the world, offering the first LEGO model set in the world of LOTR in eight years. The new model beautifully recreates the Elven refuge familiar to LOTR and LOTRO online fans alike, complete with detailed architecture, lush greenery, and a full cast of LEGO Minifigure characters.