The next content update for The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) – Update 11: Treachery of the White Hand – is launching May 13.

• Five New Areas
Update 11 features five new areas and continues the Epic Story in the remote region of Wildermore in Eastern Rohan.
• Mounted combat revamp
New class-specific traits now enhance your mounted combat skills, while bonuses to mobility have been moved from traits to your base steed.
• Hobbit presents!
Another reason to get in the game! All players will receive a Silver Hobbit Present each day they log in to LOTRO. Rewards vary from common to legendary and are tailored to your logged-in character’s level and class.
• New VIP benefits
Improved offerings for VIPs, including a custom character portrait frame, improved bonus experience system and better Hobbit presents.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unveiled today The Lord of the Rings Online™: Helm’s Deep™, the next expansion to the award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online roleplaying game developed by Turbine. Helm’s Deep will continue the Epic Story into the western plains of Rohan, allow players to take a direct role in the battle for Helm’s Deep and advance the level cap to 95.

“With Helm’s Deep, we’re bringing the War of the Ring to players on a monumental scale,” said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine. “Our team is thrilled to create another iconic moment in Middle-earth, and put players in the center of the action.”

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE: HELM’S DEEP FEATURES:

* Experience the Battle for Helm’s Deep – Fight to defend Helm’s Deep starting at level 10, as your character enlists as a soldier in the Battle of the Hornburg, the most massive conflict yet in The Lord of the Rings Online. Earn rewards for your contribution to the war effort – win or lose, your aid makes a difference!

* Explore new landscapes across Western Rohan - Explore the Westemnet of Rohan and rally each of the five Ridings as Rohan returns to glory. Traverse the capital of Edoras, mysterious Dunharrow, and the fortress of the Hornburg, deep within Helm’s Deep.

* Advance from levels 85 to 95 - Experience 10 new levels, from 85 to 95, with new skills and completely updated class specializations. Both mounted and un-mounted combat will challenge you as you war against the evil of Saruman.

* Continue the Epic Story - Encounter beloved characters such as Aragorn, Éowyn, and Éomer. Restore King Théoden to his rightful lordship and defend the peoples of Rohan at Helm’s Deep.

The Lord of the Rings Online™ is the ultimate adventure! This award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places, and monsters from the most famous fantasy of all time. For more information, visit www.lotro.com.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™ interactive video game © 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc and patents pending. All rights reserved. Middle-earth Poster Map © 2007 The Saul Zaentz Company, d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises (SZC), under license to Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.. All rights reserved. “The Lord of the Rings Online”,“Helms Deep” “Shadows of Angmar”, “Mines of Moria”, “Siege of Mirkwood”, “Rise of Isengard”, “Riders of Rohan”, Middle-earth Enterprises logo, “Mithril”, “The Lord of the Rings” and the names of the characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SZC under license to Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Turbine and the Turbine logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Turbine announced today the launch of beta client for The Lord of the Rings Online(tm) for Mac. Mac users in North America and Europe can play the award-winning free-to-play MMORPG on Mac starting today by visiting http://www.lotro.com/.

"We are really excited to open up the world of Middle-earth to Mac," said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online. "We've just launched our biggest expansion yet and we're happy to welcome gamers to play the game natively on Mac OS X for the first time ever."

To download the client, please visit here.

The Lord of the Rings Online(tm) is the ultimate adventure! This award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places, and monsters from the most famous fantasy of all time.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Turbine announced today The Lord of the Rings Online™: Riders of Rohan™, the next expansion to the award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online roleplaying game, will launch on September 5, 2012. Players can pre-purchase Riders of Rohan and gain special benefits starting today by visiting http://rohan.lotro.com.

“Riders of Rohan is our biggest expansion yet, and raises the bar technically and artistically much like Mines of Moria did in 2008. We’re introducing the largest area we’ve ever built and a combat system unlike anything that has been built before in MMOs,” said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine. “We’re excited for players to be able to continue the epic story as players immerse themselves in Rohirrim culture and support King Théoden himself as they strive to keep the eyes of Mordor distracted from the Ringbearer’s task.”

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE: RIDERS OF ROHAN FEATURES:

·Introducing Mounted Combat -- Ride into Combat atop your loyal War-steed as you defend the people of Rohan from the forces of Isengard and Mordor. Customize your War-steed’s armor and level its skills over time to aid you in mounted defense of King Théoden’s lands. Mount your steed and gather your fellows to fight against Warbands, contingents of roving wargs and orcs that have been scouted all over the Plains of Rohan! It falls to you to head off and defeat this new threat before they over take the land.
·Explore Largest Landscape Yet! -- Nearly three times as large as Moria! Join with the Rohirrim and ride across the sprawling Eastern Plains of Rohan. Raise high your sword to fight for honor and glory in the name of Théoden King! Experience hundreds of new quests, earn new favor, gear, deeds and more!
·The Epic Story Continues -- The Fellowship is on the move once again and must achieve their task at all cost. It falls to you to clear the path and turn the Eye of the Enemy away from their progress as you aid the Rohirrim in their own struggle close by. Witness the breaking of the Fellowship at Amon Hen; forge alliances with the Ents of Fangorn; and aid Éomer, nephew of Théoden, as he seeks to protect his homeland from the growing Shadow.
· Advance to Level 85 -- Learn what it means to be Rohirrim as you face new challenges throughout the Riddermark on your journey to level 85. Continue your legend as you grow in power with new skills and deeds and earn new armor and gear to aid you in the battles to come.

Starting today, players can take can take advantage of three special pre-purchase offers to celebrate the release of the next major expansion to LOTRO:

Legendary Edition -- Includes the full Riders of Rohan Expansion plus:
-The Steed of the Eastemnet – An exclusive Rohirrim Mount available immediately with matching War-steed appearance available when Riders of Rohan launches
-Armor of the Eastemnet -- An exclusive full set of Rohirrim cosmetic armour
-Friend of the Mark -- An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
-6th Inventory Bag – An inventory bag that grants 15 additional storage slots
-Crystal of Remembrance – Adds one additional legacy to your legendary weapon
-Exclusive Rohan Content -- Discover the lineage of the great War-steeds and earn a mounted combat deed that grants an exclusive skill for your War-steed
-Pre-Purchase Bonuses:
*Rohan Elite Guard Statted Cloak -- A box of four level 75 statted cloaks that allows you to choose a power bonus for your hero type
*The Outriders Token -- A 25% XP Boost for all characters on your account that will last up to level 75
*Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance -- Upon reaching level 20, you can customize your Soldier on Landscape with a Rohirrim Appearance

Heroic Edition – Includes the full Riders of Rohan Expansion plus:
-The Steed of the Eastemnet – An exclusive Rohirrim Mount
-Hauberk of the Eastemnet -- An exclusive Rohirrim cosmetic chest piece
-Friend of the Mark -- An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
-Evendim, Moria, and Lothlórien Quest Packs -- Over 650 quests, 10 fellowship instances, and two raids
-Pre-Purchase Bonuses:
*Rohan Elite Guard Statted Cloak -- A box of four level 20 statted cloaks that allows you to choose a power bonus for your hero type
*The Outriders Token -- A 25% XP Boost for all characters on your account that will last up to level 75
*Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance -- Upon reaching level 20, you can customize your Soldier on Landscape with a Rohirrim Appearance

Base Edition -- Includes the full Riders of Rohan Expansion plus:
-The Steed of the Eastemnet – An exclusive Rohirrim Mount
-Friend of the Mark -- An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
-Pre-Purchase Bonuses:
*Rohan Elite Guard Statted Cloak -- A box of four level 20 statted cloaks that allows you to choose a power bonus for your hero type
*Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance -- Upon reaching level 20, you can customize your Soldier on Landscape with a Rohirrim Appearance

Players will have access to all of the bonus items including the Steed of the Eastemnet, the Armour and Hauberk of the Eastemnet, the Friend of the Mark in-game title, the 6th inventory bag, the Crystal of Remembrance, the Exclusive Rohan Content, the Evendim, Moria, and Lothlórien Quest Packs, the Elite Guard Statted Cloaks, the Outrider’s Token, and, upon hitting level 20, the Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance after purchase. The Riders of Rohan expansion itself and the Steed of the Eastemnet War-steed appearance will be available to play on September 5, 2012. These special offers will only be available for a limited time. For more information, please visit www.lotro.com.

Check them out in the gallery!

Thinglad

Assist the sentinels of Lothlórien in patrolling their southern border and mediate relations between the Galadhrim and the Rohirrim of Stangard who have recently been clashing during patrols. At the same time, heroes are needed to scatted Orcs and Wargs that have moved into the area before they become a larger threat to the region.

Geography: Thinglad is defined by its tall, grey trees with twisted, roots that drink deeply from the Great River. The forest is misty and shadowed while the skies are pale and as cheerless as the land itself.

Lore: Once part of the Golden Wood, Thinglad has become a no man's land between Lothlórien and Rohan in the last 200 years.

Parth Celebrant

Confront troubles both living and undead upon the fields of Parth Celebrant where a great treason once befell Gondor. Bring redemption to the traitorous shades so they may rest or destroy them if they are beyond aid.

Geography: The ruins of an ancient Gondorian keep, where brave soldiers once kept watch, stand at the southern edge of Parth Celebrant, overlooking the green plains.

Lore: The site of the fiercest fighting during the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant, Parth Celebrant is also the site of a terrible betrayal. Gondorian soldiers allowed their fortress to fall to the enemy in exchange for safety and Eastern riches, condemning their countrymen to death.

Eorlsmead

Though the soldiers of Stangard are strong and fiercely loyal to their king, the village has fallen on hard times and hope is in short supply. Lift spirits by helping with shortages of food and supplies and thinning the numbers of hostile beasts in the area. Root out the source of mistrust and discontent amongst the council.

Geography: Established on the highest rise in the rolling plains of Eorlsmead, the Rohirrim village of Stangard keeps its watch over the region.

Lore: Though many men who serve at Stangard have been sent as punishment for recent, petty crimes, the village remains fiercely loyal to Rohan and Théoden, their king.

Wailing Hills

Many years have passed since the height of Rohan's strength along the Great River and Orcs and spiders have returned to the Wailing Hills. Drive out the Orcs and prevent them from allying themselves with the White Hand.

Geography: The Wailing Hills are defined by the steep, rocky outcroppings, called tors, which stretch out from the Misty Mountains like long fingers. Statues of Cirion of Gondor and Eorl the Young rise from the earth as ancient symbols of friendship but Orcs, growing bolder, have begun to defile them.

Lore: Hundreds of years ago, the forefathers of Rohan destroyed a great Easterling army in the deep valleys of the Wailing Hills to save the forces of Cirion, Steward of Gondor. The name of the land itself comes from the Rohirric word wael meaning "slaughter.

Limlight Gorge

Descend into the Limlight Gorge, where an unnatural storm has cast the land into deep shadow. Hunt fearsome trolls from the Misty Mountains who wander freely, no longer fearing the sun, and investigate the mysterious grove spreading at the base of the cliff beneath Fangorn Forest.

Geography: Caught between the rugged Misty Mountains and the northern reaches of Fangorn Forest, Limlight Gorge is a dangerous and untamed wilderness. Here, the Limlight River gushes forth over falls and rapids as it flows eastward to join the Anduin.

Lore: The appearance of the unnatural storms from the North and the encroachment of Fangorn from the South gives the area an uneasy feeling as unseen forces seem to fight for dominance over the canyon.

Brown Lands

Contend with an invading host within the desolate Brown Lands. Here the Rohirrim struggle to keep an old foe at bay while fortifying against their enemies' mysterious new allies.

Geography: Ravaged thousands of years ago during a terrible war, the Brown Lands are nearly inhospitable and are filled with withered scrub and stones as far as the eye can see.

Lore: It is believed that the Brown Lands were devastated by the power of Sauron himself nearly 3,000 years ago during the War of the Last Alliance. Before that, many beautiful gardens were tended here though little evidence of them now remains.

The Rushgore

Within the murky marshland of the Rushgore, ruthless brigands, once only a nuisance, have become a threat to the region. Pursue these brigands to reclaim priceless relics of Rohan and Gondor and extend aid to woodsmen who have found themselves overwhelmed while travelling north and now cannot leave.

Geography: A treacherous marshland, the Rushgore serves as the buffer between the fields of Parth Celebrant and the bleak Brown Lands. The eastern end of the Rushgore is one of the few places at which the Anduin can be crossed without the aid of boats.

Lore: Little is now known of the Rushgore and was known has been lost to time.

New Expansion to The Lord of the Rings Online(tm) Launching Fall 2012

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unveiled today The Lord of the Rings Online(tm): Riders of Rohan(tm), the latest expansion to the award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) developed by Turbine. Riders of Rohan expands the online world of Middle-earth where players join forces to ride into the Plains of Rohan. Riders of Rohan launches in the Fall of 2012 with an increased level cap, the vast plains of Rohan including iconic locations such as Amon Hen and Fangorn Forest, the new Mounted Combat system and much more!

"2011 was another banner year for The Lord of the Rings Online with consistent growth for the game, a successful unification of our European and North American services and the success of Rise of Isengard, our best selling expansion to date." said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online. "This is going to be another outstanding year as we celebrate our fifth anniversary and introduce a wealth of new content throughout the year, ending with our arrival in Rohan. One of our largest expansions ever, Rohan is expected to be twice the size of the recent Rise of Isengard expansion and includes the most new game systems and technology we've introduced since 2008's Mines of Moria."

NEW FEATURES:

Ø Experience the Riders of Rohan - Join with the Rohirrim and ride across the sprawling Plains of Rohan; witness the breaking of the Fellowship at Amon Hen; forge alliances with the Ents of Fangorn; and aid Éomer, adopted son of Théoden, as he seeks to protect his homeland from the growing Shadow.

Ø Introducing Mounted Combat - Ride into Combat atop your loyal War-steed as you defend the people of Rohan from the forces of Isengard and Mordor. Customize your War-steed's armor and level its skills over time to aid you in mounted defense of King Theoden's lands. Mount your steed and gather your fellows to fight against Warbands, contingents of roving warg riders that have been scouted all over the Plains of Rohan! It falls to you to head off and defeat this new threat before they over take the land.

Ø Advance to level 85 - Continue your legend in the next chapter of The Lord of the Rings Online. Experience new adventures in the epic story, and gain new skills and deeds as you face new challenges on your journey to 85!

The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate adventure. This award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most famous fantasy of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players can experience the world of Middle-earth for free! For more information, visit www.lotro.com.

Update 5 is on it's way, and Turbine's released some screenshots to tease us. You can check them out in the gallery by clicking on the thumbnail to your left!

The Epic Story continues! Aid Prince Théodred as he endeavors to keep the forces of Saruman from entering his homeland, the Kingdom of Rohan! Report to Théodred"s camp and help prepare his troops for the trials to come against the armies of Isengard. The Ford of Isen, the gateway to Rohan, must be held at any cost!