October 8, 2012 - 21:29 AMT
Warner Bros Interactive's Guardians of Middle-Earth release date named

Guardians of Middle-Earth's release date has been announced by Warner Bros Interactive, Digital Spy said.

The online multiplayer title will be available to download from the PlayStation Network on December 4 for £11.99, followed by a PS3-exclusive retail release on December 7.

To coincide with the announcement, the publisher has released images of the PS3 box art, which depicts Legolas, Sauron and Gandalf.

The game will also be released on Xbox Live Arcade this autumn, costing 1200 Microsoft Points (£10.80 / $15).

A number of post-release DLC packs have also been announced, adding maps, a gameplay mode and new characters, some of which appear in The Hobbit.

All of the game's post-release content will be available at a discounted price with a Season Pass.

The PS3 retail release, meanwhile, will contain the Season Pass of downloadable content, as well as PSN vouchers and discounts.

Announced at this year's E3 Gaming Expo, Guardians of Middle-Earth is being developed exclusively for consoles by Monolith Productions.

It will centre around multiplayer online battles, where players attempt to conquer opposing fortresses using the abilities and skills of their guardian characters.

There will be a total of 20 guardians from the popular fantasy franchise, including Gollum, Gandalf, Galadriel, Legolas and Gimli.