No one saw it coming, but Aspyr Media under Embracer has just released a new version of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC with zero prior announcement.

What is the game about

Originally launched in 2011 for PS3 and Xbox 360, War in the North is an action RPG that doesn’t directly adapt the Lord of the Rings books or movies. Instead, it explores a parallel conflict happening in the background while Frodo and Sam journey to Mordor. The story follows Ranger Eradan, Dwarf Farin, and the Elf mage Andriel as they battle Sauron’s lieutenant Agandaûr. The game was developed by Snowblind Studios, known for the Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance series, which closed its doors in 2012.

Why is this such a surprise

Lord of the Rings games, especially those directly based on Peter Jackson’s films, have long been locked away due to licensing issues. Many classics from the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 era are still stuck on old consoles. War in the North was removed from its original platforms and only remained available on PC, so its sudden comeback after 15 years caught fans completely off guard.

What’s new in the Legacy Edition

The new release doesn’t just bring the old game to modern consoles; it also adds several quality-of-life improvements:

• Online or local split-screen two-player co-op, plus three-player online co-op support
• Balance adjustments optimized for solo play
• Hot-swap character switching during co-op
• Improved enemy targeting system
• Health, mana, and XP bars for all party members
• Upgraded visual quality

Price and platforms

The game is priced at $19.99 on all platforms, but with a 10% launch discount until August 24, you can grab it for $17.99.

More may be on the way

With the Legacy Edition announcement, Aspyr hinted that more Lord of the Rings re-releases could be coming. The franchise has seen many titles published by Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Games; the timing lines up with new movies and the upcoming season of Amazon’s series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which platforms is War in the North Legacy Edition available on?

You can play it now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG). It launches on the European Nintendo eShop on August 18.

How much does War in the North Legacy Edition cost?

The game is $19.99, with a 10% launch discount dropping the price to $17.99 until August 24.

Is the game different from the original War in the North?

The core story and gameplay remain the same, but Legacy Edition adds modern upgrades like improved visuals, character switching, better enemy targeting, and expanded co-op support.