Fans Are Petitioning To Remake Classic Harry Potter And Lord Of The Rings Games
One does not simply walk up to a publisher and demand remakes of its classic games. Well, apparently you do. Retro gamers have united and put their wands up, with a fan petition for EA, Vivendi, and Warner Bros. to release classic Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings games.
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was ruling the box office, the early '00s belonged to Warner Bros. thanks to the success of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies. Things have continued with the Hobbit trilogy and Fantastic Beasts, but back in the day, these franchises were at the top of their game.
Cashing in on our love of Death Eaters and orcs, the decade was also packed with tie-in video games. From the pixelated Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to tossing Gollum into Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the books came to life on the silver screen and our consoles.
What Is The Harry Potter And Lord Of The Rings Petition?
A Change.org petition titled "Re-license The Lord of the Rings & Harry Potter games made by EA and Vivendi" has earned a tonne of signatures. At the time of writing, over 13,100 people have put their name to the campaign for these classic titles to get a new lease of life.
On the docket is a who's who of fan favourites stretching from 2001 to 2011. With the OG Harry Potter going all the way back to the PS One, most of us would struggle to find a way to play. Here's the full list of what fans want to be remastered for modern consoles:
Games made by EA:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001 & 2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (2003)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004)
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth (2004)
The Lord of the Rings: Tactics (2005)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II (2006)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (2009)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Games made by Vivendi:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)
The Hobbit (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring (2003)
Could Gamers Get Their Wish?
In the petition, owner Chris Rishoi reminded us that both Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War have proved there are still legs in Lord of the Rings, so what about the distant cousins that helped put them there?
The problem is, EA had an exclusivity deal with Warner Bros. to release games alongside the movies. Nowadays, WB's stranglehold means they can't be republished without brokering a new deal - something that doesn't look likely. It's true that both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings could be big hitters, but they're nothing compared to the might of EA's union with Star Wars.
Ironically, Vivendi is the developer behind The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002), The Hobbit (2003), and The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring (2003). Vivendi is also responsible for the beloved Simpsons: Hit & Run - which is another title lost to the ages.
Ultimately, the ball is in Warner Bros.' court. These days, WB is much more focused on its DC games, with everything from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, to Gotham Knights, and the recently announced Wonder Woman game.
Simply, the idea of bringing back classic Harry Potter and Lord of the Ring games is about as likely as Dolores Umbridge turning over a new leaf... for now.
