The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is fast approaching, but the big news comes away from that game as Amazon Games have confirmed they are in development of a new The Lord of the Rings game – and this one will be a AAA open-world multiplayer affair that whisks us off to Middle-earth.
Thanks to an agreement between Amazon Games and Embracer Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises, part of the operative group Freemode, comes a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game based on The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Set in a persistent world in Middle-earth, the game will be found featuring the beloved stories of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings literary trilogy. The game is in early stages of production, with Amazon Games Orange County – those behind the creation of the popular open-world MMO game New World – leading development.
Expect Amazon Games to publish the game globally for PC and consoles and whilst no further details are known, additional details, including launch timing, will be shared at a later date.
“We’re committed to bringing players high-quality games, whether through original IPs or long-beloved ones like The Lord of the Rings,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP, 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”, said Lee Guinchard, CEO of 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.”
We’ll keep you in the loop in regards the newly announced, as-yet-untitled, The Lord of the Rings game.
