A Letter from Orion – April 2026

Can you believe it? We are already a quarter of the way through 2026—and LOTRO is turning 19 years old! Nineteen years of adventures, friendships, victories, and unforgettable journeys through Middle-earth. And with the 20th anniversary coming up fast, this year is already shaping up to be something truly special. 

We kicked off the first quarter with a bang. Update 47: Folly of Kings went live, our newest raid The Folly of Nagakhêdi opened its doors, the Spring Festival got a fresh coat of paint, and both the Mordor and Angmar servers saw major updates. We have been pushing out new rewards, expanding our latest expansion content, rolling forward with 4K UI support, improving classes and performance, and knocking out a long list of lingering bugs. And honestly? That was just the warmup. 

Now we are charging into Quarter 2 with one of the biggest updates of the year. Update 48: A Glorious Hunt arrives later this month, bringing the story of Mizâdi and the rise of Hâmat Renewed to an epic conclusion. VIP players get access to a brand new content pack featuring the stunning Hatokali Fells, an arid frontier full of danger and discovery. The content pack includes over 75 new quests and deeds, new missions, and, later this quarter, a brand new 6-player instance. Plus, Update 48 includes, free to all: Anniversary Festival upgrades, Delving reward updates, and the long-awaited arrival of Rivendell Housing. All this starts dropping in April. 

And yes, all of this is in Q2! 

But we are not slowing down. Quarter 3 is lining up to be just as packed as we prepare for our next expansion later this year. The Midsummer Festival and Farmer’s Faire are getting fresh additions. The Ettenmoors will see major updates and the tentative debut of the Angmarim Sorceress class. And yes—The Delving of Frór is making its triumphant return! As we get closer to Update 49, we will share more but trust us: heading back into The Ettendeep is going to be an adventure for both heroes and monster players. 

Here is a high-level look at what is coming soon:

Quarter 2 – Update 48 – A Glorious Hunt  New Content Pack  New Zone: Hatokali Fells  New 6 Player Instance (Late May/Early June)  Rivendell Housing  19th Anniversary Updates  Delving Reward Updates  …and more!  Quarter 3 – Update 49 – In Good Company  Summer Festival Enhancements  The Delving of Frór Returns!  Monster Player Updates  Angmarim Sorceress Release  Class Updates  …and more! 

Alongside all of that, we are continuing to work on kinship improvements, expanding 4K UI support, improving performance, adding new rewards throughout the summer, and pushing forward on the big expansion coming later this year. 

We are incredibly excited to close out the southern story—but even more excited to bring everyone back north to kick off a brand new Epic Story with our late 2026 expansion. We think it is going to offer something for every player. Development is moving quickly, but we are not quite ready to reveal details yet. Look for much more in the next letter coming in June. 

Our journey through Middle-earth is far from over—and we are thrilled to have you by our side as we continue exploring this incredible world together. 

— Orion