War in the North remaster launches on modern platforms
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Publisher Aspyr has released a surprise "Legacy Edition" remaster of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North on modern platforms, giving new life to a 2011 action RPG that had a mixed critical reception but retains a loyal fanbase. The re-release matters because it signals renewed interest in reviving older Middle-earth games, with Aspyr hinting at further Lord of the Rings remasters to come, though no specific titles were confirmed.
The remaster is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and PC, priced at $17.99 until 25 August before rising to $19.99. Improvements include 60fps performance, bug fixes and quality-of-life additions such as enemy lock-on and the ability to switch characters on the fly. Originally developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Warner Bros in November 2011, the game was overshadowed commercially by releases like Skyrim and Modern Warfare 3, but it stood out for its online co-op, its parallel storyline to Peter Jackson's films, and being the first Lord of the Rings game rated Mature.
- War in the North remastered with 60fps and quality-of-life upgrades
- Available now on PC and current-gen/last-gen consoles, $17.99 launch price
- Aspyr teases more Lord of the Rings re-releases in future
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Aspyr, a games publisher, has quietly re-released The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, a 2011 action role-playing game, as a remastered "Legacy Edition" for current consoles and PC. The original was made by Snowblind Studios and released by Warner Bros, and although reviews were mixed at the time, it built a small but devoted following, partly because it told its own story alongside Peter Jackson's films and let players fight together online.
The new version runs on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and PC, with technical upgrades such as smoother performance, bug fixes and new options like being able to target enemies more easily and swap between characters mid-game. It is being sold at a lower introductory price for a limited time before the cost rises.
The re-release matters beyond nostalgia because it suggests publishers see fresh commercial potential in older Middle-earth games, with Aspyr suggesting more such remasters could follow, though nothing specific has been announced.
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Originally published by GameSpot as “2011 The Lord Of The Rings Game Gets Surprise Re-Release Today”.