The Lord of the Rings: Amazon stops development of the MMORPG

The Lord of the Rings: Amazon stops development of the MMORPG

The Lord of the Rings

Amazon just isn't very lucky when it comes to online gaming. The multiplayer game Breakaway was discontinued before its release and the shooter Crucible was not a success either. The MMORPG New World should appear in the summer. We will then see whether it will be successful. In any case, the development was accompanied by a few problems. The whole concept was changed from a PvP to a PvE focus at short notice. Now comes the next bad news: According to industry insider Jason Schreier, the MMORPG for The Lord of the Rings has also been discontinued.

No MMORPG for The Lord of the Rings from Amazon

The MMORPG was announced in 2019 and should be in cooperation between Amazon Game Studios and the Chinese Leyou Technologies Holdings Ltd. arise. Amazon provided a team to take care of the technology and the MMO aspects, while Leyou provided systems for the operation of a Free2Play live service game. However, the Leyou company was bought by the Chinese corporation Tencent last December, which, according to Jason Schreier, led to tensions and disputes between Amazon and Tencent. Amazon has since confirmed that it was not possible to negotiate further conditions around this title in order to be able to continue with the development. A company spokesman said: "We love the Lord of the Rings brand and are disappointed that we won't be releasing this game for customers."

The team behind the MMORPG for The Lord the ring is now being reassigned to other projects. Probably especially New World to get the online game in good condition by the end of August release. In addition, Amazon will also distribute the MMORPG Lost Ark, which is very successful in Asia, in the USA and Europe. There is no release date for this yet.

Source: Bloomberg





Amazon has cancelled its 'The Lord of the Rings' multiplayer video game

Elijah Wood, Sean Astin are posing for a picture: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." New Line Cinema © New Line Cinema 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.' New Line Cinema
  • Amazon's 'The Lord of the Rings' video game has been cancelled, Bloomberg reported.
  • The free-to-play game had been under development with a Chinese partner.
  • It was 'disappointed that we won't be bringing this game to customers,' Amazon told Bloomberg.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.
  • Amazon Games has cancelled its 'The Lord of the Rings' video game, Bloomberg reported.


    The game was originally announced in 2019 as a partnership between Amazon and Athlon Games. That company's parent, Leyou Technologies Holdings, was acquired by Tencent Holdings in December.


    The acquisition reportedly led to contract disputes, putting the project in jeopardy and leading to the cancellation, Bloomberg reported.


    Amazon was 'unable to secure terms to proceed with this title at this time,' a company spokesperson told The Verge on Saturday.


    Amazon's also developing author J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Rings' book trilogy into a television series. It's reportedly spending about $465 million on the first season alone, after buying the rights for a reported $250 million. The total price tag for the show is expected to top $1 billion.


    When Amazon announced the game in 2019, the company said: 'Set in the world of Middle-earth portrayed in 'The Lord of the Rings' literary trilogy, the game will give fans around the globe a new, immersive game experience for epic exploration of the vast world of Tolkien.'


    The game was set to be a massively multiplayer online game, the type of expansive game that encourages players to wander and explore a digital world.


    'We love the Lord of the Rings IP, and are disappointed that we won't be bringing this game to customers,' an Amazon spokesperson told Bloomberg.


    Published in the mid-1950s, Tolkien's three novels, about Frodo Baggins' quest to destroy a powerful ring, have proven themselves able to pull in new audiences across generations.


    A series of three movies made by director Peter Jackson grossed just shy of $3 billion at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo.