Amazon Cancels Lord of the Rings MMO but Continues Development on Another Tolkien Game

Amazon’s highly anticipated Lord of the Rings MMO—distinct from the existing The Lord of the Rings Online—has been canceled, according to multiple reports. However, the tech giant is still advancing a separate Lord of the Rings game in partnership with Embracer Group’s Middle-earth Enterprises.

Amazon and Embracer Group Partner on a New Tolkien Game

According to Eurogamer, Amazon’s gaming division is collaborating closely with Middle-earth Enterprises to develop a "compelling new game" set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary fantasy universe.

In a statement to Eurogamer, Jeff Grattis, Amazon’s head of games, confirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to the project. He stated:

"Amazon continues to explore a compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien’s world," Grattis said. "We remain excited about the IP we’re developing alongside Middle-earth Enterprises."

Layoffs at Amazon Games Signal the End of the MMO

Amazon Games suffered a major round of layoffs in October 2023, which significantly disrupted development across multiple projects, including the Lord of the Rings MMO. The outlet previously reported that the MMO was effectively canceled after being reduced to a skeleton crew. Developers from New World were reassigned to the project following its decline, but the MMO ultimately failed to materialize.

Reports suggest Amazon aggressively pursued AI-generated content for the game, pushing its development team to integrate the technology. Despite these efforts, all developers working on the MMO were eventually laid off.

Impact on New World and Future Plans

The October layoffs at Amazon Games also led to New World entering indefinite maintenance, with no new content updates planned. Rumors initially suggested the Lord of the Rings MMO was affected, but reports now confirm its cancellation.

While the future of Amazon’s Tolkien-related projects remains uncertain, industry observers speculate the company may pivot toward a single-player experience, given its past challenges with MMOs. Alternatively, the project could evolve into something entirely different—or potentially not materialize at all.

For now, fans of Tolkien’s universe will have to wait to see what Amazon ultimately delivers with its Middle-earth Enterprises partnership.