The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria has been moved from the previous Spring 2023 launch window to this Fall, as announced by developer Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games at Summer Game Fest 2023. The upside is that the console launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X will now be simultaneous with the PC debut (on the Epic Games Store).

　　The only survival crafting game set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria takes place in the Fourth Age when Lord Gimli Lockbearer summons a daring group of dwarves to finally take back the long-lost kingdom of Khazad-dûm.

　　The game's version of Moria is procedurally generated to ensure that no two playthroughs are the same. To survive the perilous dwarven underground, players will have to be mindful of hunting for food, gathering resources, and managing their sleep, temperature, and noise. A dynamic light system allows them to keep the darkness at bay while also paving the way forward into the dark unknown.

　　Of course, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria features plenty of fights against the Orcs that inhabit Khazad-dûm, and the official fact sheet also teased that the Shadow lurking in the deepest recesses of the kingdom may eventually be encountered. Base building is available from scratch or as additions to the existing architecture and environments.

　　With each successful Expedition, old mines may be uncovered. Reigniting their forges will provide access to their resources. Once you establish a mine, you can unearth their resources, such as iron, silver, quartz, and the fabled Mithril. Beware, though, as mining can be loud, alerting enemies to the dwarven operation.

　　There will be plenty of legendary dwarven armor, weapons and tools to loot and craft, and the developers also teased new technologies and 'fantastical machines'. Likewise, players may find magic items like swords that glow in the proximity of Orcs (this should ring a bell, right?) or amulets that enhance certain stats.

　　Last but not least, a detailed dwarf character creator should satisfy the customization needs of most players.

　　The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria will be playable solo or cooperatively with up to eight players. Check out the new gameplay trailer (narrated by award-winning actor John Rhys-Davies) that aired at Summer Game Fest 2023 above.