Update - Added information regarding console players claiming the PC code.

Lord of the Rings-themed MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth started out as a console-friendly take on the popular PC genre. And now, it's coming back home. Warner Bros and Monolith announced today that GoME is coming to PC on August 29.

The PC version will include all of the characters, map skins, and Survival mode that were paid downloadable content on consoles, though you'll still have to purchase some items with in-game currency earned from playing matches. All 36 characters will also have alternate skins for purchase through Steam, letting you choose for example to play as Gandalf the Grey or his shiny White duds.

Read more: Pricing between $9.99 and $79.99 »

Guardians of Middle-Earth has continued to add more characters to its roster, but one notable name has been missing. Lead ring-bearer and famed hobbit Frodo Baggins joins the group today, packing his own hobbit-sized abilities.

Read more: Frodo as a Striker »

Guardians of Middle-earth wasn't directly tied to The Hobbit, but it rode the wave of excitement -- right down to certain pieces of tie-in DLC. As the movie works its way out of theaters, GOME is still going strong, and starting tomorrow PlayStation Plus subscribers can grab it for free.

Read more: Discounts on Karateka, Big Sky Infinity »

While you prepare your floppy wigs and furry feet to go see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, you can amuse yourself with some movie-themed downloadable content for the console MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth. Two new characters have been made available for purchase today, along with a free map skin for all players.

Read more: Bilbo and Bert throw down »

Today's episode of Weekend Confirmed brings together Garnett Lee, Jeff Cannata, Jeff Mattas, and special guest Nikole Zivalich, and naturally, many videogames are discussed. Cannata delivers some early (and glowing) impressions of the first couple of hours of Bioshock Infinite, Far Cry 3 gets some more time in the spotlight, and the first console MOBA, Guardians of Middle-earth, gets a bit of scrutiny. Before Finishing Moves and the post-show TailGate, the crew also chats about how best to handle Weekend Confirmed's Game of the Year awards. If you've got some feedback, a preference, or some ideas about how you think it should be handled, make yourself heard in the show comments.

Listen: Weekend Confirmed Episode 142 »

By nature of the games that inspired and evolved it, the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre is inherently obtuse and command-heavy. The game type is naturally suited to PC, so Monolith must have known what it was getting into when it conceived of the console-only Guardians of Middle-earth. Simplifying such a complex genre is a daunting task, and while the game mostly succeeds inside the battlefields, the equipment menus grow more congested as a result.

Read more: Precious time »

When Monolith and Warner Bros announced the release plans for Guardians of Middle-Earth, it was oddly vague about Xbox Live Arcade. The game was committed to December 4 on PlayStation Network, and "fall" on XBLA. The developer has now confirmed the game will hit XBLA December 5, as per usual for multiplatform digital releases.

Read more: $14.99, Season Pass incoming »

Warner Bros has announced that its upcoming console MOBA, Guardians of Middle Earth, is coming this December.

The game will be available on PlayStation Network on December 4, and Xbox Live Arcade some time this fall. It will cost $14.99 for the digital copies, with plans for "extensive downloadable content" to be purchased individually or with a Season Pass. But if you'd rather support your local brick-and-mortar shop, you can pick it up for $29.99 at retail. This will include the game and the Season Pass.

Read more: DLC to tie in with The Hobbit »

Guardians of Middle-earth is intentionally a very lean MOBA experience. Developer Monolith Productions has trimmed the fat to tailor the experience to consoles, making it feel like a natural fit for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The streamlining was a conscious choice, according to producer Bob Roberts.

"I think that in general the entry point is, this is more gentle for new players," Roberts told Shacknews. "My guess is that people will get addicted here and might never leave it, but I could see that definitely being a more enticing option for people who, like some of my friends, know about [MOBAs] and want to get into it but feel like it's intimidating."

Read more: The game is 'a little more intuitive to pick up and play' »

The Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre began on the PC and has flourished there, even as some corners of the community grew more insular. The game type is complex by its nature, and since it's all multiplayer-based it can be difficult for a new player to feel comfortable jumping in. Monolith Productions, the studio behind the recent Gotham City Impostors, is taking a stab at a friendlier MOBA experience with Guardians of Middle-earth.

Read more: MOBA for newcomers »

WB Games Seattle, the Washington based studio of Warner Bros Interactive, has suffered layoffs today. Warner Bros has confirmed the layoffs, without specifying a reason or number of employees affected. The studio is currently working on Guardians of Middle-Earth, a MOBA coming to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

"Due to shifting business imperatives, WB Games Seattle has made staff reductions," the company said in a statement. "The group will continue to remain an integral part of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment."

Read more: Second round of layoffs in a year »