Amazon’s ambitious The Lord of the Rings MMO has reportedly been shelved as the company undergoes massive layoffs impacting its gaming division. This decision comes amid an industry-shaking move by Amazon, affecting thousands of employees.
Major Layoffs Impact Amazon’s MMOs
Recent reports reveal that Amazon has stopped creating new content for its existing MMO, New World, as part of a sweeping layoff strategy involving 14,000 roles. Sources indicate that these cutbacks have significantly hit Amazon’s video game sector, particularly reducing development efforts in their Irvine and San Diego offices. The focus of these cutbacks seems to be primarily on MMOs, raising concerns over the fate of The Lord of the Rings MMO.
One former Amazon Games developer recently took to LinkedIn, hinting that the game might not see the light of day. “This morning I was part of the layoffs at Amazon Games, alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (y’all would have loved it),” the developer shared.
The Uncertain Future of The Lord of the Rings MMO
The phrase “y’all would have loved it” suggests a grim outlook for The Lord of the Rings project. Neither Amazon nor the rights holder, Embracer, has commented on these developments. The game was initially announced in 2023, and even Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann acknowledged it was an early-stage project, emphasizing the need for a unique twist to differentiate it from other titles.
Meanwhile, Embracer expressed intentions to make The Lord of the Rings one of the largest gaming franchises globally. After acquiring the rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in 2022, they aimed to explore various opportunities for creating new games and movies based on the beloved series.
History of Cancellations
This isn’t the first setback for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO efforts. In 2021, Amazon canceled another Lord of the Rings MMORPG following a contract dispute with Tencent, marking a pattern of challenges in bringing this iconic fantasy world to online gaming.