Lord of the Rings Game Gets Second Chance After Skyrim Launch Mishap
A former WB Games developer regrets the 2011 decision to launch The Lord of the Rings: War in the North just before Skyrim. He argued the game was overshadowed and didn't get a fair shake due to the competition. Now re-released, the game is finding a more positive reception.
Coverage across 3 outlets
A dev tried to warn WB Games not to launch Lord of the Rings: War in the North 10 days before Skyrim, but was…
A former WB Games developer revealed he advised against releasing The Lord of the Rings: War in the North just 10 days before The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim in 2011, but his warning was ignored. The game, now re-released as a Legacy Edition, received a "Very Positive" rating on Steam despite its initial poor reception, which was partly attributed to the overwhelming competition from Skyrim and a weak marketing campaign.
Skyrim eclipsed Lord of the Rings: War in the North's launch 15 years ago, so the WB Games lead who "argued vociferously" against the release is happy to see it get a second shot
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North has been re-released by publisher Aspyr, allowing it a second chance after its original launch 15 years ago. Christian Allen, the original design director for WB Games, revealed he had argued against releasing the game so close to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's launch, fearing it would be overshadowed. The game, developed by Snowblind Studios, was a commercial disappointment at the time but is now available for players to experience without major competition.
2011 Lord Of The Rings Game Didn’t Get A “Fair Shake” Launching Near Skyrim, Former WB Boss Says
Christian Allen, formerly of Warner Bros. Games, believes The Lord of the Rings: War in the North did not receive a fair chance at launch in 2011 due to its proximity to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He argued against the release date, citing concerns that the game would be overshadowed and compared unfavorably to Skyrim, which proved to be true according to reviews. The game has since been re-released by Aspyr Media.