Amazon Games announces The Lord of the Rings MMO for console, PC developed by New World studio

Amazon Games has reached an agreement with Embracer Group subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises to develop and publish a new massively multiplayer online game based on The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the company announced. It will be developed by New World studio Amazon Games Orange County and available for consoles and PC worldwide. Specific consoles and a release date were not announced.

The still untitled The Lord of the Rings game will be set in a persistent world in Middle-earth, featuring the stories of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings literary trilogy. It is currently in the early stages of production.

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

“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.”

Embracer Freemode CEO Lee Guinchard added, “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.

“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.”

For more on the game, read Amazon Games’ newly published interview with the development team.