Oct. 24 Release Date for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™

Explore, Rebuild, and Retake the Mines of Moria Alone or With a Fellowship of Friends This October; Xbox Series X|S Release Coming Early 2024

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SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Aug. 23, 2023 — Independent developer Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games today announced the release date for their highly anticipated coop survival crafting title, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, which will welcome Dwarves into the storied mines on Oct. 24 with a digital release for the PlayStation®5 computer entertainment system and Windows PC version via the Epic Games Store. The game will see a physical release for the PS5™ at retail on Dec. 5, and is scheduled to come to the Xbox Series X|S console systems in early 2024. Eager adventurers can pre-order the title digitally starting today on PC via the Epic Games Store or wishlist the game on the PlayStation®Store for PS5™. Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth™, the epic fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria follows the Dwarves as they embark on unique adventures to reclaim and restore their Dwarven homeland of Moria.

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The story of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria takes players beyond the books and into the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the fantastical world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players take control of a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria—known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf—in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude and teamwork, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures and in the hopes of one day restoring them to their former glory.

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In The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria players will create their own custom Dwarf before venturing into the cavernous mines of Moria alone or together with a company of fellow Dwarves online. Each adventure into the depths will bring unique challenges and opportunities through the use of procedurally generated environments, creating nearly endless possibilities as players seek the deepest delves of the Dwarves. As they venture ever deeper, 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. Excavate the mysteries of the Misty Mountains, extract precious metals prized by Dwarves, rebuild and refire forges that have long since gone cold, and learn the secret of the Shadow that lurks within.

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Developed by Free Range Games and Published by North Beach Games, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria will launch on Oct. 24 for Windows PC via the Epic Game Store and PlayStation®5, and will release on Xbox Series X|S in early 2024. For more information about The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, visit ReturnToMoria.com.

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For additional details, follow the developer Free Range Games at their official website and follow them on Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. For more information on publisher North Beach Games please visit their official website.

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About Free Range Games:

Free Range Games, headquartered in Sausalito, California, is a video game developer founded in 2009 by veteran developers and longtime collaborators. Free Range Games’ mission is to make games people find meaningful, memorable, and fun. The company developed and published Spelldrifter, recently worked on Oddworld: Soulstorm, and worked with Striking Distance Studios to help bring to life their vision for The Callisto Protocol. Free Range Games has a portfolio that spans PC, VR, consoles, and mobile devices. To learn more about Free Range Games visit the website at: https://www.freerangegames.com. Oddworld: Soulstorm, Striking Distance Studios and The Callisto Protocol are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.

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About North Beach Games:

North Beach Games publishes PC and console games with a focus on the survival crafting and role-playing categories. The company’s mission is to partner with and empower the world's best independent developers and studios. Based San Rafael, CA, North Beach Games is comprised of industry veterans with a wide range of experience in publishing, marketing and game development. Most recently, North Beach Games has co-published Stranded Deep for console in partnership with Beam Team Games and provided publishing services for 7 Days to Die with The Fun Pimps.

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About Middle-earth Enterprises:

Middle-earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien is the definitive, deepest, richest and most beloved fantasy world of our time. As its stewards and custodians, our goal is to consistently deliver a wealth of great content in both new, and known formats; to ensure Middle-earth’s rightful place as the world’s leading fantasy IP and brand, forever. Inspired by our deep appreciation for the fictional world created by Professor Tolkien, we are dedicated to working with those providing highest quality products in accordance with best green business and sustainability practices, including fair trade, equality in the workplace, and a commitment to protect our earth, its wondrous beauty and the viability of every living creature. Middle-earth Enterprises was acquired by the Embracer Group in 2022, and has been producing and licensing films, merchandise, electronic games, services, and live stage productions based upon The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books, for more than half a century. www.middleearth.com.