The Long-Awaited THE LORD OF THE RINGS: GOLLUM Video Game Gets a Release Date!
It seems like fans have been waiting for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum video game to be released forever. This game has been in development for quite some time, but for what the developers are looking to do with the game, hopefully, it was worth the wait.
After being delayed a few times, it’s been announced that the game will be released on May 25th, 2023! This is a story-driven action-adventure game that focuses on Gollum and his journey. It seems like it will be a unique gaming experience for fans of The Lord of the Rings.
The game will “feature a branching narrative, and expand on the hints given by J.R.R. Tolkien about the Stoor-formerly-known-as-Sméagol to create a brand new Lord of the Rings story that aims to fit alongside the books.”
Players will embark on a perilous journey as Gollum, “chasing the only thing that is precious to him. From his time as a slave below the Dark Tower to his stay with the Elves of Mirkwood, climb, leap, and sneak your way past dangers. Skillful and sly, Gollum is also torn by his split personality. It is up to you to decide whether the darker side of Gollum takes over or if there is a spark of reason left in what once was Sméagol.”
Daedalic Entertainment CEO Cartsen Fichtelman previously talked about the game, explaining that it “follows the path of Gollum and what happens before Frodo and his companions find him trailing them in the Mines of Moria… We’ll tell his story until he first shows up. Sometimes they mention some things that happen to Gollum, but nobody knows exactly what happened. That’s our task, explaining what exactly happened there.”
Game producer Harold Riegler explains, “Gollum has always fascinated us. While being completely essential to the story written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Gollum’s long chase for his precious ring has never been told in detail. Yet his incredible journey from Mordor, through Mirkwood, to the Mines of Moria, takes players to places they haven’t seen before, while setting the stage for events that ultimately decide the fate of all Middle-earth.”
When talking about the gaming experience, Fichtelman explained, “When you play Gollum, you’ll play Sméagol at the same time. You need to make some decisions, maybe some decisions that are more or less from Sméagol, and some that are from Gollum. You can decide for yourself what you’d like to see more. When you decide some things, it could be—this is reflected in the mechanics. The game forces you to convince yourself and find one of these two positions. When it comes to other iconic characters in the universe, in Middle-earth, we’ll see what happens around Gollum.”
It’s also explained that it’s not just “choosing to be Sméagol or Gollum, because for Gollum as an entity it’s not that easy. Each personality is being attacked by the other; each has to defend himself.” It’s also explained that “the decisions you make affect the way the game feels. You always either play as Sméagol or as Gollum as the 'dominant' persona and that can influence animations, soundscapes, certain gameplay situations, and in-game dialogue.”
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be releasing on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The developer is also hosting a gameplay showcase at 6:30 PM CET on Twitch to show off some of the game.