Though we knew a Lord of the Rings project was in the works, Amazon Game Studios has officially announced this week that a Lord of the Rings MMO is on the way. Even better, the new game will also be free-to-play for both consoles and PC.
Amazon tells us that the new game, in conjunction with Leyou Technologies Holdings Limited, will be based on the beloved J.R.R Tolkien books, not the upcoming TV series also coming down the pipeline. “We’re committed to bringing customers games of the highest quality, both with our own original IP as well as beloved cultural pillars like The Lord of the Rings,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP, Amazon Game Studios. “Tolkien’s Middle-earth is one of the richest fictional worlds in history, and it gives our team of experienced MMO developers — from the same studio developing New World — tremendous opportunity to play and create. We have a strong leadership team in place to helm this new project, and we’re actively growing our team to help build this incredible experience.”
The latest undertaking doesn’t have a release date at this time, though it is confirmed for both PC and consoles. Amazon also noted that it will be a totally “new” experience and will be like nothing fans have ever seen. New creatures, a new story – the works.
“Bringing Middle-earth to life necessitates having the very best partners, and Amazon’s customer obsession, technology, and talented teams make it the ideal choice for a co-developer and publisher,” said Alex Xu, CEO of Leyou Technologies Holdings. “We believe our combined resources and expertise will result in a beautiful and compelling game that customers will love and play for years to come.”
“Who among us hasn’t wanted to take part in an epic adventure,” said Fredrica Drotos, Chief Brand and Licensing Officer at Middle-earth Enterprises. “More than 60 years after the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, we’re delighted that Amazon Game Studios has partnered with Leyou to bring their respective expertise to build a much-anticipated game that will immerse us in the beloved, epic world of Middle-earth, envisioned by Professor Tolkien.”
We don’t have a release date this time, though Amazon Game Studios promises more information will be arriving soon.
