Wondering how EA could depict events not in the Lord of the Rings movies for the upcoming Battle for Middle Earth 2? Easy, they signed a deal with Tolkien Enterprises which gives them access to the entire Lord of the Rings universe. Vivendi Universal Games had this license before, but didn't have nearly the success with their games as EA did with the movie based games. EA will use their new deal to develop the previously mentioned Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2 as well as Lord of the Rings Tactics for the PSP.

The newest The Lord of the Rings PC title will introduce players to depths of the fiction never before explored by EA, in accordance with an agreement with The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises that grants EA the rights to develop games based on the books, in addition to a separate agreement that allows for games based on the New Line films. Expanding on The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth, the new RTS game will allow players to engage in heated battles with Elven and Dwarven armies plus heroes and creatures that have never been seen in a The Lord of the Rings film. [...]
The Lord of the Rings Tactics for the PSP system will put players in the universe of Middle-earth from the books and films and allow them to lead the Fellowship or take control of the forces of Shadow. The tactical strategy game features player-customized characters and a rich system of items, upgrades and skills. Players can guard their heroes, seize high ground, set ambushes and trap enemies while fighting battles across famous locations of the books and films to determine the future of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings Tactics will allow them to pit their customized heroes against up to four other players via WiFi. A unique, simultaneous turn-taking system allows for fast-paced play.