Amazon Games has proclaimed a fresh partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Embracer Group, with a vision to create a novel Lord of the Rings MMO game.
Last week we only just reported on the newly launched strategy RPG The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth game. There have been a ton of LOTR titles released these past few years, and this is the latest entry.
A Fresh Journey into Middle-earth: Amazon’s Second Attempt at a Lord of the Rings MMO
This new venture into the realm of massively-multiplayer-online gaming is being fashioned by Amazon Games Orange County, the minds behind New World. The game is set to be launched globally for Windows PC and an undisclosed array of consoles.
Interestingly, this marks Amazon’s second journey into the creation of a Lord of the Rings MMO, after a previous endeavour with Chinese powerhouse Tencent and developer Leyou Technologies fell through. Unfortunately, the project met its end due to an impasse in the negotiation of license and terms between Amazon and Tencent.
Now, with Embracer Group at the helm of Middle-earth Enterprises, they seem eager to maximise the potential of the profitable Tolkien assets. Their vision extends to new “motion pictures, video games, board games, merchandising, theme parks and stage productions.”
However, it’s important to point out that this new MMO will take its inspiration from the core Lord of the Rings narrative, that is, the War of the Ring trilogy, rather than the appendices that Amazon has adapted into a television series.
In light of these developments, there could be stormy waters ahead for the enduring MMO Lord of the Rings Online, managed by Daybreak Game Company. This game has held its place in the industry for over ten years and continues to enjoy a dedicated fan base.