The Lord of the Rings Online has opened pre-orders for its expansion, Legacy of Morgoth. The expansion will be the long-running MMO's twelfth and will explore a part of J.R.R. Tolkien's world that the game has never gone before. Fans will get to traverse several new areas and tons of new content, including new cosmetics, foes and allies, instances and raids, and more.

The Legacy of Morgoth expansion will add end-game content to LOTRO through more than 350 new quests for level 150 players to undertake. Players will journey through the varied realms of Near Harad, traversing through marshes, deserts, haunted forests, and perilous canyons. Throughout this journey, players will uncover the lore and history of the lands, and discover the dangers that loom over it all.

The expansion will also include a new three-player instance, two six-player instances, and a raid. Pre-purchasing Legacy of Morgoth will also net fans some cosmetic items, the Wellspring Defender Movement Style, and the Journey's Start Milestone Teleportation animation.

Morgoth Is A Major Player In Rings Of Power

His Legacy Threatens The Future of Middle-Earth

In the Lord of the Rings books, Morgoth (also known as Melkor) is the most powerful Ainur, or divine spirit. Morgoth's legacy was built through wandering the Void in search of the Secret Fire, which has the power to create life. He is feared by many, especially the Elven race, as it's thought that Morgoth turned some Elves into Orcs through torture and breeding.

The name of Morgoth breathes dread into people, since his past makes him a free spirit not bound by the rules of the LOTR world. His desire for the power of life made him bitter and hateful, forging him into a destructive force to be reckoned with.

The Legacy of Morgoth expansion places this ancient power in the spotlight, where players will travel through lands touched by the dangers of Morgoth's rise to power, and see the threat firsthand. The massive new questline will help players uncover the secrets of defeating Morgoth, or, potentially becoming the very power that they sought to put a stop to.

It's Hard To Believe The Lord Of The Rings Online Is Nearly 20 Years Old

The Legacy of Morgoth Looks Amazing

I grew up playing MMOs, and it's hard to believe that some of these games from my childhood are still going strong. The Lord of the Rings Online is 17 this year, and World of Warcraft is celebrating its 20th anniversary. In a time of game fads coming and going, it's great to see beloved games getting new content and continuing to thrive.

Looking at the expansion trailer, it's hard to believe that this MMO is almost two decades old. As southc4463 says in a YouTube comment, it's "absolutely wild this game is still a thing after 17 years." The game doesn't show its age too much either, as the visuals shared for new locations are absolutely gorgeous. YouTube Elvenkin notes: "The landscape and scenery design is once again stunning! LOTRO continuing to be a game where I can spend hours just exploring the beautiful world." I couldn't agree more.

The Legacy of Morgoth expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online is scheduled for Fall 2024. Although it doesn't have an exact release date yet, pre-orders are open now. The expansion is priced at $39.99 for the base content, with two higher-value tiers for more hardcore fans.

Source: LOTRO website, LOTRO/YouTube, southc4463/YouTube, Elvenkin/YouTube