Free Range and North Beach have announced the release date for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria on Steam and Xbox Series X|S, so if you've been holding off picking it up until it arrives on Steam, your time is almost here.
Per a press release, Return to Moria arrives on Steam and Xbox on August 27th, and it's arriving alongside a major update for the game that will add a number of oft-requested features including crossplay, new gear, and a pause button for those playing in single-player.
Titled The Golden Update, the upcoming patch will be made available to all players when the Steam and Xbox releases hit, and it's even got a feature that was only available to beta branch players on the Epic Games Store previously.
First up, Sandbox Mode, which allows you to explore a procedurally-generated Moria at your own leisure. The devs say each playthrough can "vary significantly in layout and difficulty". Free Range does warn that this mode is mainly intended for those who are already familiar with Return to Moria, though, because it offers minimal tutorializing.
Additionally, up to eight players can now enjoy Return to Moria together no matter which platform they're playing on, so if you're playing on the Epic Games Store or the PS5, you'll soon be able to play alongside your Steam and Xbox buddies.
You'll also find recipes for new armor and weapons, and although they're only discoverable in Sandbox Mode, you'll be able to bring them across to the Campaign if you want to.
If you're interested in the Golden Update, you can check out everything that's new right here via the official website. It's dropping on the same day as the Steam and Xbox Series versions of the game, but it's for players on all platforms.
If you're not familiar with The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, it's a survival-crafting adventure set in (where else?) Moria. You and your friends play as dwarves setting out to reclaim your home, and to do so, you must build yourself a base, battle the monsters that inhabit the tunnels, and eke out a life for yourself.
You can check out The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria right now on PC and PS5. The game is out on Steam and Xbox Series X|S on August 27th. You can take a look at our review right now if you want to know whether the game is worth your time.
