Amazon Games is venturing into Middle Earth with a new Lord of the Rings MMO, aiming to carve out a distinct niche in a competitive market. While details about the game remain sparse, the project is set to be ambitious, promising a fresh take on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved world. Amazon is determined to differentiate this new title from existing games and previous efforts, hoping to establish a major franchise that reflects its larger-than-life ambitions.
With the release still years away, fans eagerly await more information on how Amazon plans to stand out in the crowded MMO space.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Games aims for a unique Lord of the Rings MMO to compete in the market.
- Amazon”s new Lord of the Rings MMO project seeks to differentiate itself from existing games.
- Few details are still known about the upcoming The Lord of the Rings MMO.
The Vice President of Amazon Games has hinted about the state of the publisher’s upcoming The Lord of the Rings MMO. Although the release is still years away, players can expect that The Lord of the Rings MMO will be ambitious and unique.
Despite the backing of one of the largest corporations on the planet, Amazon Games has so far struggled to establish a major foothold in the market. Despite early excitement surrounding earlier MMOs New World and Lost Ark, these attempts struggled to compete against titans such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV. However, with 10 new projects currently in development – including the upcoming co-op hack-and-slash adventure King of Meat, the next major installment of the Tomb Raider franchise, and a new driving game from the makers of Forza Horizon – Amazon Games is determined to make its mark on the industry.
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“We want to have one of those big franchises, that”s the whole point”, says Amazon Games’ Vice President Christoph Hartmann speaking to IGN. “Anything smaller than that would not be interesting to Amazon; we are a larger-than-life company.” It makes perfect sense then, for the publisher to work with The Lord of the Rings, a larger-than-life franchise. Few details are known about Amazon’s upcoming The Lord of the Rings MMORPG, other than it will take place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved Middle Earth. Even the creators don’t yet know what the game will fully be about: “It”s a big IP, it”s a big game,” says Hartmann, recognizing the expectations surrounding a Lord of the Rings title. “We”re still trying to find the hook, find that idea of what it is […] what could be the thing which is different to all the other games out there.”
Amazon Wants The Lord of the Rings MMO to Stand Out from the Competition
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This is not Amazon’s first attempt at a Lord of the Rings MMO. In 2021, Amazon Gaming Studios canceled development on an earlier foray into Middle Earth following Tencent’s acquisition of developer Leyou for a staggering $1.5 billion. Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO is not to be confused with The Lord of the Rings Online, an active MMORPG that has enjoyed an active player base and continued development since 2007. Hartmann sees the need to differentiate Amazon’s new title from this existing game, stating that “we don”t just want to go and do the same thing over […] that”s not the point of doing it. You”ve got to find a fresh twist.”
“We want to have one of those big franchises, that”s the whole point. Anything smaller than that would not be interesting to Amazon; we are a larger-than-life company.”
Although it appears that gamers will have to wait for even the smallest details regarding the new MMO, 2024 has plenty for Tolkien fans to get excited about. Season 2 of Rings of Power will debut on August 29, while The War of the Rohirrim will follow on December 13. 2024 also heralded the surprise announcement of two new live-action film projects beginning with The Hunt for Gollum, now confirmed to be directed by Andy Serkis.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
Created by
J. R. R. Tolkien
Current Series
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Where to watch
HBO Max
Video Game(s)
The Lord of the Rings Online
, LEGO Lord of the Rings
, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North
, The Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle-EarthExpand
