amazon has reached a deal With Embracer Group, the company that holds the IP rights for “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” to release a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game based on the works of JRR Tolkien. The upcoming game will be an open-world MMO adventure set in Middle-earth, which includes stories from “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” literary trilogies.
The game is in the early stages of production with Amazon Games’ Orange County Studios, the same studio behind the MMO. New World, Amazon Games will publish the game globally for PC and consoles. Amazon says it will reveal additional details, including launch times, at a later date.
Although Amazon Studios produces “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” for Prime Video, Amazon says the show is not related to an MMO game in development with Amazon Games.
“We’re committed to bringing players high-quality games, whether through original IP or long-beloved ones like The Lord of the Rings,” Christoph Hartmann, vice president of Amazon Games, said in a statement. Press release, “Bringing players a fresh look at The Lord of the Rings has long been an aspiration of our team, and we are honored and grateful that Middle-earth Enterprises is entrusting us with this iconic world. We are also pleased to expand our relationship with Embracer Group following our Tomb Raider deal last year, as they have proven to be excellent partners.
It’s worth noting that the upcoming game will be Amazon’s second take on the Lord of the Rings MMO. The company’s first attempt was announced in 2019 and beyond canceled in 2021, The game was being co-developed by Amazon, Athlon Games and Leyou. The project was put on hold after a disagreement between Amazon and Tencent, which acquired Leyou in 2020.
The news of the upcoming game comes as Amazon is ramping up its push into video games and working on its strategy. Earlier this year, the company laid off about 100 employees in its video game division. The layoffs included employees at Game Growth Group, Amazon’s San Diego gaming studio, and Prime Gaming.
Amazon Games’ lineup includes the internally developed MMO New World and the action role-playing game Lost Ark. the company is also Developing a new multiplatform “tomb Raider” Topic. Launched in 2013, Amazon Games has yet to produce a major hit, despite several published projects. The company is now looking to build on the success with a flagship fantasy franchise title that will garner attention.
