With movie goers returning to Middle-earth with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey later this year, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced an all-new game in the Lord of the Rings franchise, Guardians of Middle-earth.

It’s a competitive multiplayer battle arena game that takes place during Tolkien’s Third Age, and ties into the events of the first Hobbit movie. Players will battle for control of Middle-earth and take the role of twenty iconic heroes and villains, including Gandalf, Sauron, and Gollum. Matches will support up to 10 players, with 5 on each team.

Guardians of Middle-earth is being developed by Monolith Productions, the same team behind F.E.A.R. and another online battle arena game, Gotham City Impostors. It’ll hit Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network this fall. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will venture into theatres this December.

Link: Official Site