Image source: North Beach Games
Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria has hacked out its niche in the survival crafting genre, with a setting in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. While its launch has been fairly solid, the content is a bit limited and there are several missing features. So, what does the future hold for our Dwarven adventures? The developers at Free Range Games have laid out a Return to Moria roadmap detailing the upcoming updates and downloadable content (DLC) that players can look forward to. This article has now been updated with fresh information about Update 2, coming later in 2024.
Timeline of Return to Moria’s Roadmap
Patch 1: Immediate Fixes & Enhancements (November)
Soon after its launch, the first patch put a focus on stability and usability. Back in November 2023 Patch 1 targeted over 100 bug fixes, addressing issues like game crashes, soft locks for controller users, and glitches involving crafting stations and enemy behavior, among others.
Update 1: QoL Changes (December)
The first major update came in December, enhancing the player experience with quality-of-life improvements, especially to the inventory system. Additionally, the update introduced a final boss fight, addressing feedback on combat and enemy spawn rates. Over 200 bug fixes and polish items were included, showing the developers’ commitment to refining the game post-launch. You can read the full details here.
Return to Moria’s Update 1 launched in tandem with the game’s release on PS5.
Update 2: Latest Info For Return to Moria in 2024
Detailed news of Moria’s Update 2 came in February of 2024, detailing some of the improvements and content the dev team has been working on. These include:
- Pause Feature for Solo Players: For those venturing alone, you can now pause your game, adding a much-requested layer of convenience.
- New Base Decorations: Update your base with stylish new rugs, lamps, and furniture, giving you more customization options.
- Difficulty Adjustments: Players will have the ability to change the game’s difficulty. This includes modes tailored for large groups, solo adventurers, and those who prefer a story-focused experience.
- Building System Overhaul: The building mechanics and stability have been reworked. New building blocks are being introduced to bridge existing gaps, enhancing creativity and flexibility in construction.
- Enhanced Sound and Visual Effects: Expect more immersive sound and visual effects, especially during combat scenes, to enrich the gaming experience.
- Extensive Quality of Life and Bug Fixes: A significant number of improvements and fixes are coming, addressing issues like problematic seeds for locations and items, ensuring dwarves don’t starve during credits, improving multiplayer connection stability, and enabling all players to earn achievements, not just the host.
- Sandbox Mode (Alpha Preview on Epic Game Store): A major feature update introducing a Sandbox Mode, which offers a new way to explore Moria. This mode removes the linear narrative, allowing procedural generation to enhance the exploration of the game’s environments. Expect new types of environments, non-linear exploration of biomes, new recipes for weapons and armor, and a renewed focus on survival-crafting. As players delve deeper, the challenges will increase.
Also revealed in this latest info dump from the dev team was addressing some much-requested features. Most notably, the Xbox Version has been delayed. It will not be released within the initially projected timeline of the first quarter of 2024. Apparently, it requires more time to meet their standards of quality. The team aims to make the Xbox version “terrific” and plans to provide more details once they are available, likely after the current update is fully deployed.
Elsewhere, crossplay and dedicated servers still do not have a release timeline yet. The developers are still in the process of determining the best approach to implement these features. This means they are not ready to make any promises or announcements regarding these requests.
Content Expansions
The developers have teased new content that goes beyond mere fixes. This includes new adventures and possibly new areas to explore, which will expand the narrative and gameplay options for players. With the promise of grand plans for 2024 and beyond, the community can expect that the game will continue to grow in scale and depth.
Among the more significant technical updates on the horizon is support for shared worlds through dedicated servers, slated for the next year. This feature will be a game-changer, allowing for persistent worlds that do not require the host to be online. Additionally, an Xbox version and crossplay capabilities are in the works, broadening the game’s reach and accessibility.
Is There DLC for Return to Moria?
While specific DLC packs have not been detailed, the roadmap’s mention of new adventures and narrative progression implies that players can expect substantial DLC offerings. These could include new quests, characters, items, and even entire regions within Moria to explore and restore.
The roadmap for Return to Moria reflects a robust post-launch strategy that balances immediate improvements with long-term content expansions. With a clear commitment to quality and player satisfaction, the future of Return to Moria seems as rich and promising as the mines of Moria themselves. Until the new updates arrive, check out our starter and resource guides.
