Lord of the Rings Online may be one of the less popular pay-to-play MMORPGs, but it is easily one of the most beloved by its fans.
Media giant Warner Bros. has acquired the game’s developer for a whopping $160 million says Gamasutra.
Turbine is also responsible for Dungeons & Dragons Online, as well as Asheron’s Call.
Warner now owns the film rights, as well as the video game rights (excluding MMOs) which it bought from EA last year, and now the developer responsible for the MMO.
“This acquisition is very exciting because it allows us to expand globally while continuing to focus on creating spectacular online games that our loyal fans and players have come to expect” said Turbine CEO Jim Crowley.
After 16 years of remaining an independent developer, Turbine now joins the ever growing list of publisher owned video game developers. Warner also recently acquired a major stake in Batman: Arkham Asylum creator Rocksteady Studios.
