Amazon Takes Another Shot at Creating the Ultimate MMO

Amazon is once again attempting to create a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) based on The Lord of the Rings. This is not the company's first foray into this genre, as it previously announced a similar project in 2019 in partnership with Leyou Technologies, a China-based developer. However, the project was cancelled two years later due to Leyou being acquired by Tencent in 2020. According to Amazon Games vice president Christoph Hartmann, the company has reacquired the rights to create a Lord of the Rings game after Middle-earth Enterprises, the company that controls the rights to JRR Tolkien's works, was acquired by Embracer Group. Hartmann has a prior relationship with Embracer, having worked with them on the next Tomb Raider game, which facilitated the partnership. Hartmann's goal is to create the largest and most engaging MMO game, which will be a challenging task, especially with the existing Lord of the Rings Online game, which has been operating since 2007. However, Hartmann believes that Amazon's game can coexist with the existing game, as the technology and gameplay have evolved significantly over the years. The new game will be based on stories and characters from both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and the team is currently in the prototyping phase. Hartmann emphasizes the importance of creating a game that is both faithful to the original material and innovative in its approach. He also highlights the need to balance the creative vision with the expectations of fans and the requirements of the licence. Amazon has not announced a release date for the game, but Hartmann is committed to ensuring that it is released only when it is ready. The company has invested heavily in the MMO genre, with the recent success of New World, and Hartmann believes that the genre is underserved, providing an opportunity for Amazon to make a significant impact. Hartmann also notes that the gaming industry is constantly evolving, and Amazon is well-positioned to take advantage of new trends and opportunities. The company's partnership with Embracer Group and its experience with New World have provided valuable lessons that will be applied to the development of the Lord of the Rings game.