New The Lord of the Rings MMO Game in Development by Amazon Games and Embracer

[TheLostSwede]

Amazon Games and Embracer Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises, part of the operative group Freemode, today announced they have reached an agreement for Amazon Games to develop and publish a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game based on The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The upcoming game will be an open-world MMO adventure in a persistent world set in Middle-earth, featuring the beloved stories of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings literary trilogy. The game is in early stages of production, with the Amazon Games Orange County studio—makers of the popular open-world MMO game New World—leading development. Amazon Games will publish the game globally for PC and consoles. Additional details, including launch timing, will be shared at a later date.




"We're committed to bringing players high-quality games, whether through original IPs or long-beloved ones like The Lord of the Rings," said Christoph Hartmann, VP, Amazon Games. "Bringing players a fresh take on The Lord of the Rings has long been an aspiration for our team, and we're honored and grateful that Middle-earth Enterprises is entrusting us with this iconic world. We're also pleased to be expanding our relationship with Embracer Group following our Tomb Raider deal last year, as they've proven to be excellent collaborators."

"The world of Middle-earth continues to prove an endlessly fertile ground for creators, and Amazon Games has a passion for building immersive, compelling worlds and publishing games for a global audience," said Lee Guinchard, CEO of Freemode. "We have the clear ambition to create the highest-quality entertainment products for this IP, whether we utilize internal resources or team up with the best industry partners that complement our capabilities. We're taking every care to deliver an MMO which will do justice to the expansive Middle-earth universe and delight players around the world."

The as-yet-untitled The Lord of the Rings game continues Amazon Games' growing momentum in game publishing and development, following the success of its internally developed MMO New World and action RPG Lost Ark from Smilegate RPG, both of which have toppedSteam and Twitch charts and continue to nurture strong player communities. Amazon has also announced publishing agreements with NCSOFT for Throne and Liberty, Bandai Namco Online for Blue Protocol, Crystal Dynamics for the next major Tomb Raider game, and Glowmade and Disruptive Games for unannounced titles.

Separately, Amazon Studios produces the hit series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for Prime Video, which takes place during Tolkien's Second Age of Middle-earth and is unrelated to this upcoming MMO game in development with Amazon Games.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Space Lynx]

I'll wait for reviews, but I might be interested.

 

[dj-electric]

Amazon's previous MMO was such a huge success, they decided to go for another round. My expectations were never this high.

/s

 

[Hyderz]

this i will play

 

[Bwaze]

By the time this gets released we'll have dozens of Lord if the Rings games released and in production, Embracer Group will really try to squeeze the IP rights right from the start...

 

[LiveOrDie]

new world reskinned that what this will be lol

 

[AusWolf]

Amazon and Lord of the Rings... please, no!

 

[dj-electric]

You shall not Battle Pass

 

[Vayra86]

new world reskinned that what this will be lol

Yeah its pretty obvious lmao

They're just relaunching their trash can

Dunno man when I read "Amazon Games" I just can't help unseeing Bezos' face and the person/company/policy it belongs to, it kills any and all immersion by design, I just can't even touch anything they'll ever release. It oozes everything I don't want to be a part of... and I love MMO's go figure

You shall not Battle Pass

Play One game and you've played them all, and in the darkness bind them...

 

[mama]

I understood Amazon only held limited rights to the Appendices of LOTR and Silmarillion. None of the major characters then.

 

[Bwaze]

I understood Amazon only held limited rights to the Appendices of LOTR and Silmarillion. None of the major characters then.

This is licensed by Embracer Group, who now hold the rights for Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, game adaptations etc. So no Silmarillion or other posthumously published books, but other than that it isn't limited.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

"fresh take..."

If it's 'fresh' like Rings Of Power fresh which was 'very fresh' then I dont see this game going anywhere apart from being relentlessly dunked on by the hardcore LoTR community and the lolcows on YT who will be farming the game for content and views.


(Im guessing they will try to tie the game in with the laughing stock of the tv show...)

 

[Dragokar]

So they reskin New World and call it Lotro?

 

[Prima.Vera]

What's wrong with the current one?

 

[noel_fs]

i think we've had enough garbage with new world

 

[FreedomEclipse]

What's wrong with the current one?

afaik, because its made by WB and because its hella old. The base game was made in 2007 and its most recent expansion was in 2020 which sounds absolutely insane but you gotta give WB ,ad credit for supporting the game that long and im sure there are MMOs that have far surpassed what original LoTRo bought to the table.


-- And when i say because its made by WB. Amazon obviously think they can do better. doing and thinking are not what we think of when we think of when we put amazon+games together....At least their refunds policy is absolutely top notch.

 

[dirtyferret]

What's wrong with the current one?

afaik, because its made by WB and because its hella old. The base game was made in 2007 and its most recent expansion was in 2020 which sounds absolutely insane but you gotta give WB ,ad credit for supporting the game that long and im sure there are MMOs that have far surpassed what original LoTRo bought to the table.


-- And when i say because its made by WB. Amazon obviously think they can do better. doing and thinking are not what we think of when we think of when we put amazon+games together....At least their refunds policy is absolutely top notch.

They released an "expansion" during this past holiday season.

Turbine made the game (the old DAoC guys) while WB published it, but its changed "hands" so many times since then but currently standing stones develops it
I've played the game on and off since launch day but the list of issues is long but the main issue is the developer is too small and underfunded as are virtually all MMOs not named WoW
it also features a

heavily monetized game
outdated graphics
heavy server lag
quests and gameplay need to be refined
horrible character animation

that said their take on certain zones like the Shire are outstanding and the community is extremely nice

 

[neatfeatguy]

New World wasn't very good, no better than LOTRO. I thought LOTRO was pretty crappy, not sure what people saw in it. I also thought that the Amazon LOTR show was bad, couldn't get past the 1st episode and I hear it didn't really improve after that. I believe this game will be a failure.

MMOs are kind of a relic these days, even with all the stupid mobile games that folks do the same repetitive actions over and over again people will throw tons of money at them to try and win, MMOs just aren't the same. MMOs become slow to level up and gain good gear and progress forward becomes tedious, the grind increases and there is no easy way past it like with mobile games (where you can pay to speed your way past if you don't want to painfully and slowly grind your way there over the course of 6+ months). That's why folks pay big money on these free games, you get so far and start getting that feeling of being powerful, but they hold it just out of your reach without a ton of dedication to get there free. Anyway, I don't see this MMO or any future MMO really being worth the time playing like they were many years ago.

 

[unwind-protect]

I predict a trainwreck.

I'm also disappointed that this is - again - locked into just LotR and The Hobbit instead of also being able to use the rest of Tolkien's writings.

 

[Nephilim666]

I predict a trainwreck.

I'm also disappointed that this is - again - locked into just LotR and The Hobbit instead of also being able to use the rest of Tolkien's writings.

Exactly, the first and second ages could be so deeply explored.

 

[unwind-protect]

Don't get me wrong, I will try to get into the first alpha or beta test I can and subscribe from day one.

But a trainwreck is what I expect. The studio has a horrible record so far, essentially driving New World into the wall. The recent comments to put "playability over lore" don't help.

 

[Bwaze]

I'm also disappointed that this is - again - locked into just LotR and The Hobbit instead of also being able to use the rest of Tolkien's writings.

I think anyone is free to negotiate a deal for Silmarillion + other Middle-earth books. Now that Christopher Tolkien is gone I'm sure Tolkien Estate won't have too many objections to large sums of money.

The main problem is that it isn't a widely known and loved IP. Even within groups of Tolkien enthusiasts like societies, social media groups, only a smaller part have read the Silmarillion. Unless you try to sell it as "Lord of the Rings: The First Age".

 

[unwind-protect]

I think anyone is free to negotiate a deal for Silmarillion + other Middle-earth books. Now that Christopher Tolkien is gone I'm sure Tolkien Estate won't have too many objections to large sums of money.

The main problem is that it isn't a widely known and loved IP. Even within groups of Tolkien enthusiasts like societies, social media groups, only a smaller part have read the Silmarillion. Unless you try to sell it as "Lord of the Rings: The First Age".

I don't actually want to set a game in any other timeline than late 3rd age. But I want all those historical references and nuggets to be free to use all of middle earth.