Amazon Confirms LOTR MMO Cancellation, Plans New Game

Amazon Games has effectively confirmed the cancellation of its Lord of the Rings massively multiplayer online game, first announced in May 2023, while signaling plans for a new project in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth universe.

The confirmation came in a statement from Jeff Grattis, Amazon's head of games, provided in response to inquiries about the project's status. "Our creative team continues to explore a compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien's world," Grattis said. "We are working closely with Middle-earth and remain excited about the IP." The phrasing indicates the original MMO, developed internally at Amazon Game Studios including its Orange County team, is no longer active, though Amazon has not abandoned the franchise licensed from Embracer Group's Middle-earth Enterprises and the Tolkien estate.

Development on the MMO began in very early stages after the announcement, with sources close to the project describing it as initially a side effort involving only one or two people for several years. It advanced to preproduction in late 2025, when over 1,000 developers were shifted from the studio's New World project. This transition occurred just before...