Warner Bros.' many IPs are set to make 2022 a fantastic year for fans. DC was nearly going to have two anticipated titles inGotham KnightsandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but unfortunatelySuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguehas been delayed until 2023. That leavesGotham Knightswith its release date of June 08, 2025, but more will still need to be shown from it before fans can be truly excited.
However, DC is not the only subsidiary that Warner Bros. owns.TheLord of the Ringsand theHarry Potterfranchises are both immensely popular, but neither have had wholly superb video games in the past. Rare standouts includetheMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorandMiddle-earth: Shadow of Warinstallments, which used Warner Bros.' patented Nemesis system. This year looks to rectify this issue for both franchises asThe Lord of the Rings: GollumandHogwarts Legacyare scheduled to release.
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The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Could Inspire New Games in the Franchise
Warner Bros.' Monolith Productions, which developed the twoMiddle-earthtitles, is currently working ona standaloneWonder Womangame. It is possible that a sequel toMiddle-earth: Shadow of Warcould be announced in the future, but the place where Talion and Celebrimbor’s narrative concludes seems fairly definitive. Instead, Warner Bros. has a new IP with which it hopes to renew life intoThe Lord of the Rings.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollumis a stealth- and choice-oriented experience where players will grapple with Smeagol’s poisoned duality. Gameplay snippets have been shared, and cinematic teasers and trailers have been released, but not much else has been shown to amplify its hype. Further,The Lord of the Rings: Gollum’s release window delaymay have pushed it out of fans' consciousness for now. It needs to come back with gameplay presentations and a lot more to share if it hopes to raise this excitement.
Gollum may not be everyone’s first choice for a player character in the fantastical world of Middle-earth. Even so, fans should be happy thatThe Lord of the Ringsis still relevant in the industry, because it may open the door to other possible games in the future. If successful,The Lord of the Rings: Gollumcould spell the potential for new gamesset in the same franchise, possibly developed by Daedalic Entertainment. With any luck, Gollum’s standalone title will be the positive recourse that the franchise needs, still launching in 2022 as it currently plans to.
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Hogwarts Legacy Seeks to Offer an Immersive Harry Potter Experience
Before March, information about Warner Bros’Hogwarts Legacyhad been scarce. Fortunately, PlayStation’s State of Play last month quelled those worries withan extended look atHogwarts Legacy’s gameplay. This demonstrates thatHogwarts Legacyis at least in a place to be able to show its many ambitious features, which is a relief since the game is still scheduled for a holiday 2022 release.
Hogwarts Legacylooks to immerse players as students at the iconic school of witchcraft and wizardry.Harry Potter’s film tie-in games were received poorly back in their day, thoughthe first threeHarry Pottergames retain some charm. TheHarry Potterfranchise is now a contentious IP for developers to work on due to author J.K. Rowling’s transphobia, so Warner Bros. and Avalanche Software likely hope fans can enjoyHogwarts Legacyfor what it has to offer regardless.
If Avalanchecan pull off the wonder and fantasy of Hogwarts in its debut installment, the franchise could have a healthy future with sequels that explore other aspects ofHarry Potterlore. BothThe Lord of the Rings: GollumandHogwarts Legacyhave a huge opportunity to cement their franchises in the video game space, and offer experiences that will lay the foundation for sequels and other explorations of each license.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollumis scheduled to release in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Hogwarts Legacyis scheduled to release holiday 2022 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
