Amazon is delving further into J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe, not just through television adaptations but now also in the realm of gaming.

Amazon deepens its Tolkien journey

The e-commerce behemoth, after securing TV rights to The Lord of the Rings and successfully launching the series “The Rings of Power,” is now setting its sights on game development. Amazon Games is partnering with Embracer Group to concoct an innovative massively multiplayer online (MMO) game grounded in the Lord of the Rings narrative. The game’s timeline will coincide with Middle Earth’s Third Age, coinciding with the events depicted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Amazon Games Orange County, the studio behind the existing MMO, “New World,” will spearhead the development of this untitled project. While the game’s title and release date are yet to be revealed, Christoph Hartmann, vice president of Amazon Game Studios, assures that quality won’t be compromised for speed.

The evolution of Amazon Games

Although Amazon Games is a relatively minor player in the game publishing market, it’s predicted to gain traction as cloud gaming expands. Hartmann, a seasoned professional in the industry and founder of 2K Games, believes in the potential growth of the company. Besides developing the new Lord of the Rings MMO and the existing “New World,” Amazon Games has various projects in the pipeline, including a Tomb Raider game and collaborations with Bandai Namco and other developers.

The journey of the Lord of the Rings MMO

This isn’t Amazon’s maiden voyage into the creation of a Lord of the Rings MMO. A previous venture in 2019, in collaboration with Leyou Technologies, was called off after Leyou was acquired by Tencent. Nevertheless, the acquisition of Middle Earth by Embracer opened a new window of opportunity for Amazon Games, leading to the current project’s inception.

Setting the stage for a new generation of games

While the new MMO will be set in the Third Age of Middle Earth, it won’t overlap with Amazon’s “The Rings of Power” series or the existing Lord of the Rings Online. Hartmann is confident that the upcoming MMO, backed by advanced technology, will cater to a completely new generation of gamers.

The appeal of the Lord of the Rings franchise

Despite mixed reactions to “The Rings of Power,” Amazon is betting on the immense popularity of the Lord of the Rings franchise to draw players to the new MMO. Hartmann insists that the game must stand on its own merit, with the franchise acting as the icing on the cake.

What are your thoughts on this venture of Amazon into the world of Lord of the Rings? Do share your opinions with us in the comment section below!