Amazon Games and Embracer Group Announce New ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Game

Studio behind “New World” developing open-world multiplayer adventure set in Middle-earth.

License Global

May 16, 2023

“The Lord of the Rings” logoAmazon Games and Embracer Group

Amazon Games

and

Embracer Group

, through its subsidiary, Middle-earth Enterprises, part of the operative group Freemode, have announced they have reached an agreement for Amazon Games to develop and publish a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game based on “

The Lord of the Rings

” by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The upcoming game will be an open-world MMO adventure in a persistent world set in Middle-earth, featuring the stories of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” literary trilogy. The game is in the early stages of production, with the Amazon Games Orange County studio – makers of the popular open-world MMO game “New World” – leading development. Amazon Games will publish the game globally for PC and consoles. Additional details, including launch timing, will be shared later.

“We’re committed to bringing players high-quality games, whether through original IPs or long-beloved ones like ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” says Christoph Hartmann, vice president, Amazon Games. “Bringing players a fresh

take on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ has long been an aspiration for our team, and we’re honored and grateful that Middle-earth Enterprises is entrusting us with this iconic world. We’re also pleased to be expanding our relationship with Embracer Group following our ‘Tomb Raider’ deal last year, as they’ve proven to be excellent collaborators.”

“The world of Middle-earth continues to prove an endlessly fertile ground for creators, and Amazon Games has a passion for building immersive, compelling worlds and publishing games for a global audience,” says Lee Guinchard, chief executive officer, Freemode. “We have the clear ambition to create the highest quality entertainment products for this IP, whether we utilize internal resources or team up with the best industry partners that complement our capabilities. We’re taking every care to deliver an MMO which will do justice to the expansive Middle-earth universe and delight players around the world.”

The as-yet-untitled“The Lord of the Rings”game continues Amazon Games’ growing momentum in game publishing and development, following the success of its internally developed MMO, “New World,”and action RPG, “Lost Ark,”from Smilegate RPG, both of which have toppedSteam and Twitch charts and continue to nurture strong player communities. Amazon has also announced publishing agreements with NCSOFT for “Throne and Liberty,” Bandai Namco Online for “Blue Protocol,” Crystal Dynamics for the next major “Tomb Raider”game and Glowmade and Disruptive Games for unannounced titles.

Separately, Amazon Studios produces the hit series, “The Lord of the Rings: TheRings of Power”for Prime Video, which takes place during Tolkien’s Second Age of Middle-earth and is unrelated to this upcoming MMO game in development with Amazon Games.