The Hobbit
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Hobbit across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Magic: The Gathering's The Hobbit Booster Boxes Secure a New Price Cut Ahead of Prime Day
Amazon has reduced the price of Magic: The Gathering's The Hobbit Play Booster Boxes ahead of Prime Day, marking the lowest price seen for these packs at effectively $5.66 per pack.
The Industrial Revolution is the reason RPGs have area-of-effect spells: A PC Gamer Causality Chain™
This article traces the historical origins of area-of-effect spells in role-playing games, linking their development to the Industrial Revolution. It explores how concepts from J.R.R. Tolkien's works and early tabletop wargames like Leonard Patt's Rules for Middle Earth influenced the implementation of these spells in early video games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Telengard.
First Hunt for Gollum set photos take us back to the Shire with a fresh glimpse at Elijah Wood's Frodo
First-look images from the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hunt for Gollum, have been released, showcasing the Shire and confirming the return of Elijah Wood as Frodo. The film, set before the original trilogy, also features Andy Serkis directing and reprising his role as Gollum, alongside other returning and new cast members. The movie is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027.
Meet the Lord of the Rings RPG that smashed its crowdfunding goals by 10 times in a single hour
Free League's crowdfunding campaign for a rules revamp of The One Ring, a Lord of the Rings tabletop RPG, has exceeded its $50K goal by over 12 times, reaching nearly $800K within hours. The update includes a new bestiary, a campaign expansion for Gondor and Rohan, and refined core mechanics, with estimated hardcover shipping in October 2027.
Where do I start with a Campaign?
This guide offers advice for new Game Masters on how to start building their own tabletop role-playing game campaigns. It emphasizes generating ideas, establishing conflict, developing antagonists, and planning for Session Zero. The article uses examples like 'The Airy Peaks' to illustrate concepts such as history/lore, starting locations, and antagonist motivations.
The Best Tabletop Role-Playing Games To Play That Aren’t Dungeons & Dragons
This article explores popular tabletop role-playing games that offer alternatives to Dungeons & Dragons, highlighting systems like Mork Borg for its dark fantasy themes, Dread for its unique Jenga-based mechanics, and The One Ring for its faithful adaptation of Tolkien's world. It also touches upon Final Fantasy XIV TTRPG and The Walking Dead: The Role-Playing Game.
MTG head designer Mark Rosewater shuts down possibility of MTG Harry Potter set, saying it's "very…
Magic: The Gathering head designer Mark Rosewater has stated that a Harry Potter crossover set is "very unlikely" to be produced by Wizards of the Coast. While other 'Universes Beyond' sets like The Hobbit and Marvel have been released, Rosewater's firm stance suggests this particular franchise is not being considered for future Magic products.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition Review | TheXboxHub
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition offers a chance to revisit a forgotten 2011 action RPG. While the remaster shows its age visually and in gameplay pacing, its earnest Tolkien-esque story and enjoyable hack-and-slash combat make it a worthwhile nostalgic trip.
There and Back again: Magic: The Gathering x The Hobbit
Wizards of the Coast has released Magic: The Gathering x The Hobbit, the second Tolkien-themed Universes Beyond set, which is also the first to be Standard legal. The set features 321 Standard Legal cards and 143 Commander cards, with a strong emphasis on collectability and artwork. Despite initial concerns about IP crossovers, the set has received largely enthusiastic reception and is expected to be another successful release for the company.
"We've learned a lot from the fan reaction," MTG The Hobbit designers say as they battle dwarves and narrative constraints to create the most faithful adaptation yet
Wizards of the Coast designers discuss the creation of the Magic: The Gathering set based on The Hobbit, emphasizing its narrative separation from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth. They highlight learning from fan feedback on Universes Beyond collaborations and focusing on specific moments and characters from the novel to create a faithful TCG adaptation.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North re-release is just the start as publisher teases "more classic releases" from Middle-earth are on the way
Aspyr has re-released The Lord of the Rings: War in the North and teased that more classic Lord of the Rings games are planned for future releases. This announcement suggests a potential revival of several previously inaccessible titles from the franchise, including The Third Age and Battle for Middle-earth.
Following its excellent Lord of the Rings cards, Magic: The Gathering's new Hobbit set is a bit of a second…
Magic: The Gathering is releasing a new set based on The Hobbit, featuring new mechanics like 'hone' and 'recruit,' alongside returning mechanics like 'amass' for goblins. This set introduces new cards for Sting and the One Ring, with distinct mechanical differences from the previous Lord of the Rings set. The Hobbit set is a smaller release compared to The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and will have a tabletop release on August 14.
The Spectrum White Edition interview: ‘it smells the same as Christmas Day 1984'
Retro Games CTO Chris Smith discusses the company's mission to recreate classic 8-bit computers like the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 with modern hardware. The Spectrum White Edition aims to capture the original experience, including programming capabilities, while offering modern conveniences like HDMI output and save states. Smith highlights the challenges of hardware replication and the importance of preserving gaming history for both nostalgic adults and curious younger generations.
First Look at Three Cards From The Hobbit's New Magic: The Gathering Crossover
This article provides a first look at three new cards from the upcoming Magic: The Gathering crossover with The Hobbit. The crossover aims to bring the world of Middle-earth into the popular trading card game.
MTG: The Hobbit exclusive card reveal – Woodland Weavemaster
Checkpoint Gaming has revealed an exclusive card for the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, which is a collaboration with The Hobbit. The card, Woodland Weavemaster, is a green Elf Druid costing one generic and one green mana, with a 1/2 stat line. Its abilities allow it to gain +1/+1 when another Elf enters the battlefield and generate mana to cast Elf spells or activate Elf abilities. The Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit set is scheduled to launch on August 14.
With Secret Lair, Magic: The Gathering Wants To Appeal To As Many People As Possible
Wizards of the Coast's Secret Lair brand is expanding its reach by collaborating with various IPs like Hatsune Miku, Stardew Valley, The Hobbit, Marvel, Lofi Girl, and Masters of the Universe. Principal product lead Steve Sunu emphasized authenticity in these collaborations, aiming to appeal to both Magic: The Gathering fans and fans of the respective IPs. New drops include a Hatsune Miku Commander deck, Stardew Valley themed cards, and unique treatments for Marvel and The Hobbit collaborations.
The Hobbit Marks Magic: The Gathering’s First Return To Previously Visited Universes Beyond
Wizards of the Coast announced The Hobbit as the first "sequel set" for its Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond initiative. Set lead Annie Sardelis, executive producer Zakeel Gordon, and principal game designer Gavin Verhey discussed new mechanics like "Hone" and "Storied," as well as special "Book Cover" card treatments. The set, which draws from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, aims to be more granular than its predecessor, The Lord of the Rings, and is scheduled for release on August 14.
Everything announced at MagicCon Amsterdam 2026, from new sets to returning favorites
MagicCon Amsterdam 2026 featured numerous announcements for Magic: The Gathering, including new sets for 2027 like Nauctis: The Sunken Realm, Kamigawa: Titanbreach, and Zhalfir, alongside three unrevealed Universes Beyond sets. The event also detailed the Reality Fracture set, the Stardew Valley and The Hobbit Secret Lair drops, and upcoming community events and MagicCons for 2027.
GameSpot’s Exclusive Magic: The Gathering – The Hobbit Cards Turn Death Into An Opportunity
Wizards of the Coast has revealed two new Rare cards, 'Part In Friendship' and 'The Master of Lake-town,' from the upcoming Magic: The Gathering expansion, The Hobbit. The expansion, set in J.R.R. Tolkien's universe, is scheduled to launch on August 14, with prerelease events beginning August 7.
Amazon’s Got A Great Early Prime Day Deal On The Middle-Earth 6-Film Collection
Amazon is offering an early Prime Day deal on the Middle-Earth 6-Film Collection, which includes Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies on 4K Blu-ray and remastered Blu-ray, along with digital copies. The collection is discounted from $130 to $110. Additionally, deluxe illustrated editions of Tolkien's novels are also on sale.