After months of speculation, The Lord of the Rings Online has officially revealed its next major expansion: Kingdoms of Harad. Pre-orders are now available on the the official site, and the expansion is slated for release on December 3, 2025.
This marks the 13th expansion in LOTRO’s long-running lifecycle, and it comes more than a year after the Legacy of Morgoth expansion, which launched in November 2024. The wait has been felt by many players, and hopes are high that Harad will reinvigorate interest in the classic MMORPG.
From what’s been revealed so far by MMORPG.com, Kingdoms of Harad will raise the level cap to 160, offer over 400 new quests across four new zones, and include the most voice acting ever in a LOTRO expansion (nearly 95–100% of the main Epic questline voiced). The zones include new regions like Mûr Ghala and lands long associated with the southern realms of Middle-earth. Preorder bundles range from a standard edition ($40) to premium editions with mounts (camels!), extra storage, cosmetic items, XP boosts, and more.
The expansion also continues the game’s long-running narrative. Picking up after the events of Legacy of Morgoth, players will join Mithrandir in traveling deeper into Harad, uniting local factions to resist the power struggles emerging in the wake of Sauron’s downfall. The new region of Mûr Ghala, once known as the Land of Plenty, lies at the center of this conflict. Its fertile lands have been scarred by centuries of conquest, from Númenórean invaders to Sauron himself, and now stand contested by rival kingdoms and the remnants of dark cults.
Of course, LOTRO is no stranger to the challenges of longevity. Like most MMOs of its age, it no longer commands the player peaks of its prime, but the community remains dedicated enough to sustain expansions like this. Some community forums report decline trends over recent months, though no official numbers have been released. Still, expansions like this often act as reset points, bringing returning players and renewed engagement.
If all goes well, Kingdoms of Harad could energize Lord of the Rings Online for another cycle—pulling veterans back in and maybe even attracting new players. But with high expectations come risks. The success of this expansion may depend less on feature lists and more on how well Standing Stone executes on performance, polish, and community trust.
