Guardians of Middle-earth, the new multiplayer online battle arena from Warner Bros. and Monolith Productions, is slated to release in "early December", the companies announced today. The game will be available as both physical retail at select North American stores as well as digital download via Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network

The digital version will be available for $14.99 on PSN beginning December 4, 2012, and for 1200 Microsoft Points on XBLA this fall. Additional content will be released following the initial launch and can be purchased individually or as part of a Season Pass.

The retail versions of Guardians of Middle-earth will be available at select retailers on December 4, 2012 for PS3  and for Xbox 360 this fall. Included with the retail purchase is pre-paid, discounted access to the digital content that will be offered post-launch. Versions of Guardians of Middle-earth  ;for each platform will contain value relating to each platform's currency for the full game plus the Season Pass of DLC.

Digital content for Guardians of Middle-earth will consist of game maps, one bonus gameplay mode, and several additional good and evil characters, some based on key characters in the upcoming film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which is set to release on December 14, 2012.