Durin’s Folk Expansion Announced for Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria at SDCC 2025

The deep echoes of Khazad-dûm are set to grow richer. Free Range Games and North Beach Games unveiled “Durin’s Folk,” a major expansion for the survival adventure The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 (July 2025). While details remain closely guarded, the announcement promises an expanded end-game narrative, “exciting” new gameplay mechanics, and numerous secrets yet to be revealed, reigniting interest for players who have braved the depths of Moria since the game’s debut.

Expanding the Depths of Moria

Originally launched in October 2023 as a PC (Epic Games Store) and PlayStation 5 exclusive, Return to Moria expanded its reach significantly in August 2024. The game arrived on Steam and Xbox Series S|X, crucially introducing cross-play functionality across all platforms, uniting Dwarven players regardless of their preferred system. This move revitalized the community, setting the stage for the newly announced expansion.

Building a Strong Foundation

The development team hasn’t been idle since the multi-platform launch. Earlier in 2025, a significant update introduced optional dedicated server support. This allows players to rent servers from third-party providers or host their own. Server administrators gained granular control over their world’s difficulty using specific console commands, as detailed in the official patch notes (Free Range Games, Patch Notes, Q1 2025). These commands enable setting presets like “Story,” “Solo,” “Normal,” or “Hard,” or fully customizing aspects such as:

• combatdifficulty
• enemyaggression
• survivaldifficulty
• miningdrops
• worlddrops
• hordefrequency
• siegefrequency
• patrolfrequency

Values range from verylow to veryhigh, offering players unprecedented flexibility in tailoring their Moria experience, a feature likely appreciated by those preparing for the challenges hinted at in “Durin’s Folk.”

Anticipating Durin’s Legacy

With the “Durin’s Folk” expansion announcement generating buzz at SDCC 2025, speculation naturally turns to its release window. While Free Range Games provided no specific date, the timing of the reveal fuels anticipation. The base game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria celebrates its second anniversary on October 24, 2025. This proximity suggests the studio might target a launch around that milestone, offering a fitting celebration for dedicated players. Fans eager to delve deeper into Dwarven lore and confront new trials beneath the Misty Mountains should stay tuned for official updates from Free Range Games in the coming months.

Must Know

What is the Durin’s Folk expansion?
“Durin’s Folk” is a newly announced major expansion for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. It promises an expanded end-game story, new game mechanics, and additional secrets, focusing on the legacy of Durin’s line within Moria. Specific features and release details are still forthcoming.

When will the Durin’s Folk expansion be released?
Free Range Games has not announced a specific release date for the “Durin’s Folk” expansion. The announcement was made in July 2025, and speculation points towards a potential release around the base game’s second anniversary on October 24, 2025, but this is unconfirmed. Players should watch for official announcements.

What platforms will get the Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria expansion?
While not explicitly confirmed in the SDCC 2025 announcement, the “Durin’s Folk” expansion is expected to launch on all current platforms supporting the base game: PC (Steam & Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X, maintaining cross-play functionality.

What new features were added to Return to Moria recently?
A significant update earlier in 2025 introduced optional dedicated server support. Players can now rent or host their own servers and customize various difficulty settings like combat intensity, enemy aggression, resource drops, and event frequencies using specific console commands, offering greater control over their gameplay experience.

Do I need to own the base game to play the Durin’s Folk expansion?
Yes, “Durin’s Folk” is an expansion pack. Players will need to own the base game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria to access and play the new content introduced in the expansion.