Amazon’s New World Team Makes LOTR MMO

Will you play Amazon Games’ Lord of the Rings MMO?

Lord of the Rings + Middle-earth: The Complete Playlist

New World developer Amazon Games has partnered with Embracer Group’s Middle-earth Enterprises to create a brand new MMO based on The Lord of the Rings. The massively multiplayer online game, which is completely separate from The Lord of the Rings Online and from Amazon’s previously cancelled Lord of the Rings MMO, is currently in the early stages of development and as of yet has no official title.

Amazon Games Orange County, the team behind New World, is leading development on the new MMO, which will come to PC and consoles. No release window was given, though Amazon Games did say it would feature the stories of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings book trilogy.

“Bringing players a fresh take on The Lord of the Rings has long been an aspiration for our team, and we’re honoured and grateful that Middle-earth Enterprises is entrusting us with this iconic world,” said Christoph Hartmann, Amazon Games vice president.

Hartmann also made clear to iGV that this project is a brand new take on a Lord of the Rings MMO and won’t be using any materials from the one Amazon cancelled in 2021. “It’s completely new,” he said. “The old project wasn’t very long [in] development. It’s not that it was a three year project, it was a fairly small team working on a certain part of the game, but that was not a full-blown production.”

The team at Amazon Games also appears confident in their ability to produce a high quality MMO, saying only technical limitations will hold them back.

“This is a completely new game because the license is much, much wider,” Hartmann continued.” Obviously, there’s nothing changing because we all know the world is set, the characters are set. It’s really the freedom we have in terms of gameplay features where now anything is possible, and the limitation is where it’s technically possible or not.”

“Before, it was like, ‘it’s a good idea but we can’t do it because there’s something else going on.’ Now, the mission we are on, and the mission Embracer fully supports, Middle-earth Enterprises fully supports, is to make the biggest, best MMO out there based on Lord of the Rings. That’s our ambition.”

Lee Guinchard, the CEO of Middle-earth Enterprises’ operative group Freemode, reiterated this point. “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,” he said.

Being the biggest and best MMO based on Lord of the Rings will of course put it in competition with The Lord of the Rings Online, which still receives updates from developer Turbine despite being released 16 years ago.

This new Lord of the Rings MMO from Amazon Games is a welcome addition to the world of Middle-earth. It’s great to see that Amazon Games is taking a fresh approach to the world of Tolkien and is committed to creating a high-quality MMO that will appeal to fans of the books, movies, and games.

Here are some of the reasons why this new MMO is exciting:

• It’s a brand new take on the Lord of the Rings MMO. Amazon Games has stated that they are not using any materials from the previously cancelled MMO, so we can expect something fresh and original.
• It has a wider license than the previous MMO. This means that Amazon Games has more creative freedom to explore the world of Middle-earth and create a more expansive and engaging experience.
• It’s being developed by the team behind New World. Amazon Games Orange County has proven itself capable of creating high-quality MMOs, so we can expect a polished and enjoyable experience.
• It will be available on PC and consoles. This means that a wider audience will be able to experience the game, which is great news for fans of The Lord of the Rings.

Of course, it’s still early days for the game and we don’t know much about it yet. But based on what we know so far, this new Lord of the Rings MMO has the potential to be something truly special. We can’t wait to learn more about the game and see how Amazon Games brings Middle-earth to life in a new and exciting way.

Here are some of the things we’d like to see in the new MMO:

• A vast and detailed world to explore. We want to be able to visit all of our favorite locations from the books and movies, including the Shire, Rivendell, Lothlórien, and Mordor.
• A compelling and engaging story. We want to experience the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings from a new perspective, and learn more about the history of Middle-earth.
• A wide range of character customization options. We want to be able to create a character that truly reflects our own personality.
• A deep and rewarding combat system. We want to be able to engage in epic battles against a variety of enemies, from Orcs and Goblins to the forces of Sauron.
• A robust crafting and economy system. We want to be able to craft our own gear and items, and trade with other players.

Only time will tell what the final game will look like, but it’s clear that Amazon Games is committed to creating a Lord of the Rings MMO that is worthy of the name. This new game is sure to be a hit with fans of the books, movies, and games, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store.

Lord of the Rings + Middle-earth: The Complete Playlist

Here are all the official Tolkien-based game releases and expansions so far. Log in to check off which ones you’ve played, finished, or planning to play — or remix the list and rank your favorites.

• The Hobbit (1982)
• The Lord of the Rings: Game One (1990)
• The Shadows of Mordor (2014)
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s War in Middle-earth (1990)
• The Crack of Doom (1984)
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990)
• J. R. R. Tolkien’s Riders of Rohan (1985)
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers (1991)
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: Volume 1 (1991)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth (2004)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II (2006)
• The Lord of the Rings Online (2007)
• The Lord of the Rings: War in the North (2011)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Hobbit (2012)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth (2014)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Shadows of War (2017)
• The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game (2018)
• The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth (2018)
• The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023)