Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition Surprise-Launches on Modern Platforms

A surprise re-release of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North has just hit modern consoles and PC. Aspyr has remastered the game for current platforms, much to the delight of dedicated Middle-Earth enthusiasts. The title is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC for $17.99 until August 25th, after which the price will increase to $19.99. This new edition includes 60fps support, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements like enemy lock-on and the ability to switch characters on the fly.

The original War in the North launched in November 2011 for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, but it wasn't a massive hit. Critics gave it mixed reviews; IGN scored it 7/10, noting it felt too safe and somewhat uninspired. Commercially, it struggled due to competing with big releases like Modern Warfare 3 and, notably, Skyrim. However, time has been kind to the game, as many fans now look back on it fondly, and it even made IGN's list of the best Lord of the Rings games.

What sets War in the North apart is its online co-op, allowing you to play through the story with friends. The narrative runs parallel to the events of the books and Peter Jackson's original trilogy, even using the likenesses of the film actors and the movies' aesthetic. It was also the first Lord of the Rings game to receive an M for Mature rating, embracing a grittier and bloodier tone than the films. This paved the way for the more celebrated Shadow of Mordor, known for its darker story and intense violence.

In a press release, Aspyr teased that more Lord of the Rings re-releases are coming, but didn't specify which games. War in the North was originally published by Warner Bros., while many beloved titles from the 2000s were published by EA. Whether that will cause rights issues remains to be seen, but a remaster of The Return of the King or Lord of the Rings: Conquest would be fantastic.