Dataminers report that MultiVersus has possibly cut planned content from the Lord of the Rings franchise. The massive crossover fighting game brings together various Warner Bros. properties like DC Comics, Game of Thrones and Looney Tunes to create entirely original multiversal matchups. Leakers previously reported that MultiVersus cut Gandalf voice lines, and now even more references to the Lord of the Rings franchise have disappeared from the game's files. As a free-to-play live-service title, MultiVersus will continue to receive new content updates far into the future. The crossover title recently launched with an impressive 17 playable fighters, including icons like Superman, Bugs Bunny and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. Following its release and a brief delay MultiVersus kicked off Season 1, with the game's first season set to include even more fighters like Rick and Morty's titular stars, Stripe from Gremlins and DC Comics anti-hero Black Adam. Leaked game files also hint at even more upcoming characters, with MultiVersus possibly adding Beetlejuice and the Wicked Witch before the end of its first season.Related: Fans Campaign To Add Breaking Bad's Walter White To MultiVersusMultiVersus leaker and Twitter user multiversusie recently revealed that Lord of the Rings content may have been cut from the crossover fighting game. The title's files previously contained several references to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy series, including an Eye of Sauron trophy and an appearance by the tower Barad-dûr within the Trophy's E.D.G.E. stage. This sudden removal of widespread Lord of the Rings references from MultiVersus may suggest that The Tolkien Estate pulled back the rights for Middle-earth, though no official statement or explanation has been given by Warner Bros. or Player First Games.

MultiVersus May Have Lost The RIghts To Lord of the Rings Content

While MultiVersus has removed many references to the beloved fantasy saga, a new Lord of the Rings video game proves that the Tolkien Estate is still interested in game adaptations. The newly-announced project will be a collaboration between game developer Private Division and Weta Workshop, the VFX company that helped create Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. This interactive adaptation of Middle-earth makes the removal of all Lord of the Rings references from MultiVersus even more unusual.

The Lord of the Rings is one of the biggest and most beloved Warner Bros. properties, and fans were eager to see Tolkien characters like Gandalf and Gollum added to MultiVersus. The removal of numerous LOTR references sadly suggests that Player First Games encountered issues when incorporating Tolkien's characters. However, perhaps these connections to The Lord of the Rings will be restored in the future when the issues are resolved.

MultiVersus is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Source: multiversusie/Twitter