The Lord of the Rings: The War of the North Legacy Edition Returns on Modern Platforms

Aspyr has brought back an action-RPG from Middle-earth: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the North is returning to digital stores after a long absence, and it’s landing on modern platforms with a Legacy edition planned for multiple release dates.

Legacy edition returns after rights cleared

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the North – Legacy Edition is not a full remake of the 2011 game. Instead, Aspyr is re-listing the title after it disappeared from digital storefronts in 2018 when the original publisher’s rights lapsed.

The company is putting the game back on sale for “about twenty euros,” available now on current platforms including PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. A Switch and Switch 2 release is also planned, starting August 18.

1. The original action-RPG launched in 2011.
2. It left digital storefronts in 2018 after the rights tied to the original publisher expired.
3. Aspyr re-releases the game as a Legacy Edition on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, priced at roughly €20.
4. Switch and Switch 2 versions are scheduled to release on August 18.

Why this comeback may have been easier

Aspyr is part of the Embracer group, which also includes Middle-Earth Enterprises. The overlap in ownership is cited as a factor that helped make the re-release possible.

Aspyr also says it is not planning to stop here, pointing to “other re-editions of classics” from the same franchise in the future.

What’s new in the Legacy version

The War of the North was originally developed by Snowblind Studios, an in-house team that shut down after the game released. The studio was previously known for work on Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, and its team structure had been reshuffled later—Monolith Productions absorbed parts of Snowblind Studios, after which Warner Bros. Games closed Monolith Productions last year.

For players expecting major changes, the Legacy Edition is described as keeping the original game largely intact. The notable gameplay addition is the ability to swap between the game’s three heroes in real time: Eradan (the stealth-focused ranger), Andriel (the elven magic user), and Farin (the durable dwarf).

• Co-op remains available both online and in split-screen.
• The RPG progression systems from the original are retained.
• The game continues to feature well-known characters such as Aragorn, Gandalf, and Elrond.
• Iconic locations are still part of the experience, including the elf sanctuaries of Rivendell (Fondcombe), the dramatic heights of the Lonely Mountain, and the misty paths of the Misty Mountains / Black Forest region.

Fanservice built around Middle-earth

The re-release leans into the same Middle-earth fan pull as the original, positioning the title as a co-op RPG experience with progression, recognizable faces from the franchise, and multiple signature settings—now playable again on today’s hardware and storefronts.