Amazon Cancels Lord of the Rings MMO Following Studio Restructuring

Amazon Games has reportedly cancelled its in-development The Lord of the Rings MMO project.

The MMO was originally announced in May 2023 as a collaboration between Amazon Games and Embracer Group, with the title planned as a brand-new online experience set in The Lord of the Rings creator J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth universe.

According to reports, the project was still in very early pre-production when the decision was made.

The cancellation follows major restructuring efforts within Amazon Games after significant layoffs last October, which impacted several first-party AAA and MMO projects across the company.

Despite the setback, Amazon says it remains interested in developing a new gaming experience based in Middle-earth, suggesting the company has not entirely abandoned the franchise.

The move marks another major shake-up for Amazon’s gaming division, which has increasingly narrowed its focus toward fewer large-scale projects following the success of Lost Ark and New World.