Amazon Games makes a new attempt at a Lord of the Rings MMO
After the failed Lord of the Rings MMO that was cancelled in 2021, developer Amazon Games has struck a new deal to create a new PC and console experience. Amazon Games is making another attempt to bring a Lord of the Rings MMO to life. According to a press release, the MMORPG will be developed and published exclusively for PC and consoles by the studio that has struck a new deal with the license holder Middle-earth Enterprises.
According to the press release, the LotR MMO will be an open-world adventure and will include "stories from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings novel trilogy". After Amazon Games launched New World at the end of 2021, fans can expect this experience to be transferred to one of the most popular franchises of all time.
Deal with Middle-earth Enterprises and the story behind the failed project
Regarding the deal, Amazon Games VP Christoph Hartmann said: "It has long been our goal to offer players a new interpretation of Lord of the Rings, and we are honored and grateful that Middle-earth Enterprises has entrusted us with this iconic world."
The previous version of Amazon Games' LotR MMO - originally announced in 2018 - was cancelled in 2021 after development partner Athlon Games was acquired by Chinese technology and entertainment conglomerate Tencent. As a result, Hartmann explained in an interview with Gamespot in September 2022 that Middle-earth Enterprises exercised a contractual clause that would terminate the rights agreement in the event of a partner acquisition, which brought everything to a halt.
Separation from Tencent and new attempt for the Lord of the Rings MMO
Despite this, Amazon Games and Tencent continued to negotiate in the hope that a new agreement could be reached. However, the negotiations stalled, and Amazon Games eventually decided to cut ties.
Now that the ball is clearly in Amazon Games' court, we are excited to see how the studio will fare with a Lord of the Rings MMO. Hopefully, we will be craving more...dor.
What we can expect from the new Lord of the Rings MMO
- An open-world adventure that includes the stories from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings novel trilogy
- Exclusive development and release for PC and consoles by Amazon Games
- A new interpretation of Lord of the Rings that has the potential to excite fans
Here at Keyfuchs, we are excited for more information on the new Lord of the Rings MMO and will keep you updated as news becomes available. Stay tuned!
