{"id":1934861,"date":"2026-05-14T11:23:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1934861"},"modified":"2026-05-14T11:23:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:23:20","slug":"amazon-confirms-its-working-on-a-compelling-new-the-lord-of-the-rings-video-game-but-its-mmo-is-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1934861","title":{"rendered":"Amazon Confirms It&#8217;s Working on a &#8216;Compelling&#8217; New The Lord of the Rings Video Game, but Its MMO Is Dead"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">We can safely say that Amazon\u2019s <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/the-lord-of-the-rings-mmo\">The Lord of the Rings MMO<\/a> is dead, although the mega corp has insisted it\u2019s still working on a new Middle-earth video game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Confirmation comes from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/amazon-cancelled-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-new-game-experience\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eurogamer<\/a>, which reported on the cancelation of the game as part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/amazon-ai-game-project-trident-laid-off-anyway-report\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an investigation into Amazon\u2019s push towards generative AI and subsequent widespread layoffs<\/a> across its development teams.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Amazon Games boss Jeff Grattis, told Eurogamer: \u201cOur creative team continues to explore a compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien&#8217;s world; we are working closely with Middle-earth and remain excited about the IP.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The Best Lord of the Rings Video Games<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tolkien\u2019s Middle-earth has captured the imagination of fantasy fans worldwide ever since The Hobbit was published in 1937. And although Peter Jackson is the film director who successfully brought the books to life on the big screen, you might be surprised to learn Middle-earth also has a rich video game history that goes back decades.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe earliest video game adaptation was created in 1982 by Beam Software, which developed a text-adventure game based on The Hobbit. The game was a huge hit and went on to sell over 500,000 units in Europe, despite middling reviews from critics. Such is the power of Tolkien\u2019s works.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nIn total, there are over 50 video games based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien that span numerous genres, like action-adventure, RPG, strategy, and more. As we prepare for another new Tolkien game just on the horizon, we\u2019ve gone through this long history and chosen the 11 best Lord of the Rings games ever made.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;11. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe legal rights to adapt The Lord of the Rings into video games are almost as complicated as Middle-earth\u2019s lore itself. In the early 2000s, Tolkien\u2019s literary works and Peter Jackson\u2019s film adaptations were treated separately, with Vivendi and Tolkien Enterprises owning the rights to adapt the books for games, while EA owned the rights to adapt Peter Jackson\u2019s The Lord of the Rings movies. In 2009, Warner Bros. was able to bring together both movie and book rights and, at long last, develop games that incorporated story elements from both the literary and cinematic worlds of Tolkien.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe Lord of the Rings: War in the North is the first Middle-earth game to feature story and design elements from both books and films. This hack-and-slash RPG stars a trio of original characters: The Ranger Eradan, the Dwarf Farin, and the Elf Andriel, each with their unique playstyle. The trio goes on a journey parallel to the events of the film trilogy after they\u2019re enlisted by Aragorn to help the Fellowship, all while Frodo makes his way to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. While the combat is generally considered enjoyable, albeit typical of its time, the real draw is that Lord of the Rings fans get to role-play as self-insert friends of Aragorn during the iconic events of the Peter Jackson movies.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 12 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;10. The Lord of the Rings: Online&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nSince 2007, thousands of players have ventured into the many regions of Middle-earth itself thanks to the extensive digital world of The Lord of the Rings: Online. While certainly not as popular as other MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14, Lord of the Rings Online has cultivated a dedicated player base thanks to the way it brings the world of Tolkien to life, allowing players to explore the far corners of Eriador, Rhovanion, Gondor and Mordor. A visit to The Lord of the Rings: Online can even be considered essential for any Lord of the Rings fan.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nCreate a unique character and travel around Middle-earth during the events of The War of the Ring and undertake quests and raids crafted after events from the novels. What\u2019s more, the game is still going strong after 18 years, with the most recent expansion, Legacy of Morgoth, released in late 2024. It also remains the only Lord of the Rings MMORPG, and will remain so for the foreseeable, especially after Amazon canceled its own planned Lord of the Rings MMORPG in 2021.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;9. Lego The Hobbit&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nTT Games, formerly Traveller\u2019s Tales, has transformed beloved franchises into wildly popular, comedic adventure Lego games for years. Lego The Hobbit follows the same formula that made the studio\u2019s Star Wars and Harry Potter games such beloved hits.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nA zany re-telling of Peter Jackson\u2019s Hobbit movies built of plastic bricks, players can adventure through the events of the trilogy\u2019s first two films, An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug (the third film, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, had not yet hit theaters.) You can unlock and play as dozens of different Hobbit movie characters in this humorous adventure, which splices plenty of great skits and sight gags into an otherwise pretty faithful (if heavily condensed) recreation of the movies. Expect to battle goblins, ride barrels, and steal from a colossal dragon. But as enjoyable as this all is, just know there is a better Tolkien movie trilogy with a better Lego adaptation slightly further down this list.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;8. The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nEA Los Angeles launched a series of real-time strategy games based on Middle-earth in 2004, during the height of the genre\u2019s popularity. The Battle for Middle-earth is rooted in the tried-and-tested Command &amp; Conquer formula: you take command of either the forces of Gondor or Mordor, establish a base by building unique structures and units, and then send out an army that will fight a war to determine the fate of Middle-earth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nBattle for Middle-Earth was a critical and commercial success when it was released,\u00a0 thanks to its satisfying single-player story mode that included separate, complete campaigns for both Gondor and Mordor. Many praised the way it perfectly translated the world of Middle-earth to the RTS genre, and EA LA would go on to one-up their achievements with a far superior sequel that you\u2019ll also find in this list.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;7. The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe Lord of the Rings is the kind of property that allows for all kinds of adaptations. RTS? Sure! MMORPG? Absolutely. How about a Final Fantasy-esque turn-based RPG? Surprisingly, also yes \u2013\u00a0 you\u2019ve found your way to The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nCriticized for being maybe too inspired by Final Fantasy 10, right down to having a similar battle menu, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age nevertheless combines a familiar, turn-based combat system and class-based party system with the world of The Lord of the Rings.\u00a0 The result is a satisfying RPG that has become an enduring fan-favorite. The Third Age, like War in the North, is set parallel to the events of the Peter Jackson films, with players taking on the role of characters who are hot on the trail of the Fellowship. Along the way, you visit many of the same locations that appear in the film trilogy, and battle familiar foes like the Balrog. There are even moments where you can temporarily team up with members of the Fellowship itself in battle.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nIt\u2019s not the most original game on this list, but\u00a0 The Third Age is a great way to feel like a part of The Lord of the Rings movies without simply playing as Aragorn, Gandalf, or Frodo.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/it-looks-like-amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-is-dead\">The Lord of the Rings MMO was thought dead back in October<\/a>, when Amazon confirmed it was walking away from making new content for its MMO, New World, amid huge layoffs affecting 14,000 roles at the company. According to a report by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-10-28\/amazon-makes-significant-cuts-in-video-game-division\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bloomberg<\/a>, these layoffs included \u201csignificant\u201d cuts to Amazon\u2019s video game operation, which reduced development work mainly in its Irvine and San Diego offices.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Bloomberg said Amazon was cutting back especially on MMOs, sparking concern for The Lord of the Rings MMO. At the time, a former Amazon Games developer hit by the cuts suggested The Lord of the Rings MMO was dead.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThis morning I was part of the layoffs at Amazon Games, alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (y&#8217;all would have loved it),\u201d the developer said in a now-deleted post on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cIt\u2019s always tough to see such a strong team go through something like this \u2014 I\u2019ve been lucky to work with some of the most skilled, creative, and kind developers I\u2019ve ever met here.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Although <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/lord-of-the-rings-mmo-coming-from-new-world-developer-amazon-games\">The Lord of the Rings MMO was announced in 2023<\/a>, in August last year, then Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/amazon-games-still-seeking-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-christoph-hartmann-interview\">told IGN<\/a> it was still early days. &#8220;We&#8217;re still trying to find the hook, find that idea of what it is because we don&#8217;t just want to go and do the same thing over,&#8221; Hartmann said at the time.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;While it&#8217;s tempting sometimes with an existing IP, that&#8217;s not the point of doing it. You&#8217;ve got to find a fresh twist, and we&#8217;re still, I think, in that period where we really want to find out what could be the hook, what could be the thing which is different to all the other games out there. So it&#8217;s a little bit early.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In 2023, Lord of the Rings rights owner <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/embracer-plans-to-turn-lord-of-the-rings-into-one-of-the-biggest-game-franchises-in-the-world\">Embracer said it needed to be &#8220;exploiting Lord of the Rings in a very significant fashion&#8221;<\/a> by turning it into \u201cone of the biggest gaming franchises in the world.\u201d Embracer bought the rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in August 2022 and announced plans to explore opportunities to create new games, movies, and more based on the famous intellectual property soon after.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-1339469126 jsx-1355461925 box jsx-2627838217 poll-content-block\" data-cy=\"poll-content-block\">\n<fieldset class=\"answers jsx-332304107\" role=\"radiogroup\" aria-labelledby=\"poll-question\">\n<legend class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4192417768\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"poll-question\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-1377259516 headline\" id=\"poll-question\">What is the best Lord of the Rings game?<\/h2>\n<p><\/span><\/legend>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer highlight\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58919\" id=\"answerId58919-label\"><span class=\"label\">Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1945348876\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58920\" id=\"answerId58920-label\"><span class=\"label\">Middle-earth: Shadow of War<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58921\" id=\"answerId58921-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58922\" id=\"answerId58922-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58923\" id=\"answerId58923-label\"><span class=\"label\">Lego The Lord of the Rings<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58924\" id=\"answerId58924-label\"><span class=\"label\">Lego The Hobbit<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58925\" id=\"answerId58925-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58926\" id=\"answerId58926-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58927\" id=\"answerId58927-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58928\" id=\"answerId58928-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings Online<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58929\" id=\"answerId58929-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: War in the North<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58930\" id=\"answerId58930-label\"><span class=\"label\">Other (let us know in the comments)<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4255654680 poll-controls\"><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-2267841559 contained disabled full-width large\" disabled type=\"submit\" data-cy=\"poll-answer-btn\">Answer<\/button><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-1624977611 nav next-button small\" title=\"See Results\" aria-label=\"See Results\" data-cy=\"see-results-btn\"><span style=\"white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-align:right\">See Results<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" aria-label=\"See Results\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It\u2019s worth digging into Amazon\u2019s statement a little deeper here. Mention of \u201ca compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien&#8217;s world\u201d suggests a new The Lord of the Rings game is in the works. But what could it be? Perhaps it\u2019s the rumored The Lord of the Rings RPG from Kingdom Come: Deliverance developer Warhorse, which, it\u2019s worth pointing out, is owned by Embracer.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">This isn\u2019t the first time Amazon has canceled a Lord of the Rings MMO. In 2021, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/amazon-cancels-its-the-lord-of-the-rings-mmorpg\">it halted a Lord of the Rings MMORPG<\/a> that was first announced in 2019 amid a contract dispute with Tencent.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">We can safely say that Amazon\u2019s <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/the-lord-of-the-rings-mmo\">The Lord of the Rings MMO<\/a> is dead, although the mega corp has insisted it\u2019s still working on a new Middle-earth video game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Confirmation comes from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/amazon-cancelled-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-new-game-experience\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eurogamer<\/a>, which reported on the cancelation of the game as part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/amazon-ai-game-project-trident-laid-off-anyway-report\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an investigation into Amazon\u2019s push towards generative AI and subsequent widespread layoffs<\/a> across its development teams.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Amazon Games boss Jeff Grattis, told Eurogamer: \u201cOur creative team continues to explore a compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien&#8217;s world; we are working closely with Middle-earth and remain excited about the IP.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The Best Lord of the Rings Video Games<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tolkien\u2019s Middle-earth has captured the imagination of fantasy fans worldwide ever since The Hobbit was published in 1937. And although Peter Jackson is the film director who successfully brought the books to life on the big screen, you might be surprised to learn Middle-earth also has a rich video game history that goes back decades.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe earliest video game adaptation was created in 1982 by Beam Software, which developed a text-adventure game based on The Hobbit. The game was a huge hit and went on to sell over 500,000 units in Europe, despite middling reviews from critics. Such is the power of Tolkien\u2019s works.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nIn total, there are over 50 video games based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien that span numerous genres, like action-adventure, RPG, strategy, and more. As we prepare for another new Tolkien game just on the horizon, we\u2019ve gone through this long history and chosen the 11 best Lord of the Rings games ever made.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;11. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe legal rights to adapt The Lord of the Rings into video games are almost as complicated as Middle-earth\u2019s lore itself. In the early 2000s, Tolkien\u2019s literary works and Peter Jackson\u2019s film adaptations were treated separately, with Vivendi and Tolkien Enterprises owning the rights to adapt the books for games, while EA owned the rights to adapt Peter Jackson\u2019s The Lord of the Rings movies. In 2009, Warner Bros. was able to bring together both movie and book rights and, at long last, develop games that incorporated story elements from both the literary and cinematic worlds of Tolkien.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe Lord of the Rings: War in the North is the first Middle-earth game to feature story and design elements from both books and films. This hack-and-slash RPG stars a trio of original characters: The Ranger Eradan, the Dwarf Farin, and the Elf Andriel, each with their unique playstyle. The trio goes on a journey parallel to the events of the film trilogy after they\u2019re enlisted by Aragorn to help the Fellowship, all while Frodo makes his way to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. While the combat is generally considered enjoyable, albeit typical of its time, the real draw is that Lord of the Rings fans get to role-play as self-insert friends of Aragorn during the iconic events of the Peter Jackson movies.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 12 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;10. The Lord of the Rings: Online&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nSince 2007, thousands of players have ventured into the many regions of Middle-earth itself thanks to the extensive digital world of The Lord of the Rings: Online. While certainly not as popular as other MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14, Lord of the Rings Online has cultivated a dedicated player base thanks to the way it brings the world of Tolkien to life, allowing players to explore the far corners of Eriador, Rhovanion, Gondor and Mordor. A visit to The Lord of the Rings: Online can even be considered essential for any Lord of the Rings fan.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nCreate a unique character and travel around Middle-earth during the events of The War of the Ring and undertake quests and raids crafted after events from the novels. What\u2019s more, the game is still going strong after 18 years, with the most recent expansion, Legacy of Morgoth, released in late 2024. It also remains the only Lord of the Rings MMORPG, and will remain so for the foreseeable, especially after Amazon canceled its own planned Lord of the Rings MMORPG in 2021.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;9. Lego The Hobbit&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nTT Games, formerly Traveller\u2019s Tales, has transformed beloved franchises into wildly popular, comedic adventure Lego games for years. Lego The Hobbit follows the same formula that made the studio\u2019s Star Wars and Harry Potter games such beloved hits.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nA zany re-telling of Peter Jackson\u2019s Hobbit movies built of plastic bricks, players can adventure through the events of the trilogy\u2019s first two films, An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug (the third film, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, had not yet hit theaters.) You can unlock and play as dozens of different Hobbit movie characters in this humorous adventure, which splices plenty of great skits and sight gags into an otherwise pretty faithful (if heavily condensed) recreation of the movies. Expect to battle goblins, ride barrels, and steal from a colossal dragon. But as enjoyable as this all is, just know there is a better Tolkien movie trilogy with a better Lego adaptation slightly further down this list.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;8. The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nEA Los Angeles launched a series of real-time strategy games based on Middle-earth in 2004, during the height of the genre\u2019s popularity. The Battle for Middle-earth is rooted in the tried-and-tested Command &amp; Conquer formula: you take command of either the forces of Gondor or Mordor, establish a base by building unique structures and units, and then send out an army that will fight a war to determine the fate of Middle-earth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nBattle for Middle-Earth was a critical and commercial success when it was released,\u00a0 thanks to its satisfying single-player story mode that included separate, complete campaigns for both Gondor and Mordor. Many praised the way it perfectly translated the world of Middle-earth to the RTS genre, and EA LA would go on to one-up their achievements with a far superior sequel that you\u2019ll also find in this list.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;7. The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nThe Lord of the Rings is the kind of property that allows for all kinds of adaptations. RTS? Sure! MMORPG? Absolutely. How about a Final Fantasy-esque turn-based RPG? Surprisingly, also yes \u2013\u00a0 you\u2019ve found your way to The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nCriticized for being maybe too inspired by Final Fantasy 10, right down to having a similar battle menu, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age nevertheless combines a familiar, turn-based combat system and class-based party system with the world of The Lord of the Rings.\u00a0 The result is a satisfying RPG that has become an enduring fan-favorite. The Third Age, like War in the North, is set parallel to the events of the Peter Jackson films, with players taking on the role of characters who are hot on the trail of the Fellowship. Along the way, you visit many of the same locations that appear in the film trilogy, and battle familiar foes like the Balrog. There are even moments where you can temporarily team up with members of the Fellowship itself in battle.&lt;br&gt;&lt;\/br&gt;\u00a0\nIt\u2019s not the most original game on this list, but\u00a0 The Third Age is a great way to feel like a part of The Lord of the Rings movies without simply playing as Aragorn, Gandalf, or Frodo.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/it-looks-like-amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-is-dead\">The Lord of the Rings MMO was thought dead back in October<\/a>, when Amazon confirmed it was walking away from making new content for its MMO, New World, amid huge layoffs affecting 14,000 roles at the company. According to a report by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-10-28\/amazon-makes-significant-cuts-in-video-game-division\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bloomberg<\/a>, these layoffs included \u201csignificant\u201d cuts to Amazon\u2019s video game operation, which reduced development work mainly in its Irvine and San Diego offices.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Bloomberg said Amazon was cutting back especially on MMOs, sparking concern for The Lord of the Rings MMO. At the time, a former Amazon Games developer hit by the cuts suggested The Lord of the Rings MMO was dead.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThis morning I was part of the layoffs at Amazon Games, alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (y&#8217;all would have loved it),\u201d the developer said in a now-deleted post on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cIt\u2019s always tough to see such a strong team go through something like this \u2014 I\u2019ve been lucky to work with some of the most skilled, creative, and kind developers I\u2019ve ever met here.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Although <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/lord-of-the-rings-mmo-coming-from-new-world-developer-amazon-games\">The Lord of the Rings MMO was announced in 2023<\/a>, in August last year, then Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/amazon-games-still-seeking-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-christoph-hartmann-interview\">told IGN<\/a> it was still early days. &#8220;We&#8217;re still trying to find the hook, find that idea of what it is because we don&#8217;t just want to go and do the same thing over,&#8221; Hartmann said at the time.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;While it&#8217;s tempting sometimes with an existing IP, that&#8217;s not the point of doing it. You&#8217;ve got to find a fresh twist, and we&#8217;re still, I think, in that period where we really want to find out what could be the hook, what could be the thing which is different to all the other games out there. So it&#8217;s a little bit early.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In 2023, Lord of the Rings rights owner <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/embracer-plans-to-turn-lord-of-the-rings-into-one-of-the-biggest-game-franchises-in-the-world\">Embracer said it needed to be &#8220;exploiting Lord of the Rings in a very significant fashion&#8221;<\/a> by turning it into \u201cone of the biggest gaming franchises in the world.\u201d Embracer bought the rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in August 2022 and announced plans to explore opportunities to create new games, movies, and more based on the famous intellectual property soon after.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-1339469126 jsx-1355461925 box jsx-2627838217 poll-content-block\" data-cy=\"poll-content-block\">\n<fieldset class=\"answers jsx-332304107\" role=\"radiogroup\" aria-labelledby=\"poll-question\">\n<legend class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4192417768\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"poll-question\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-1377259516 headline\" id=\"poll-question\">What is the best Lord of the Rings game?<\/h2>\n<p><\/span><\/legend>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer highlight\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58919\" id=\"answerId58919-label\"><span class=\"label\">Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1945348876\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58920\" id=\"answerId58920-label\"><span class=\"label\">Middle-earth: Shadow of War<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58921\" id=\"answerId58921-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58922\" id=\"answerId58922-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58923\" id=\"answerId58923-label\"><span class=\"label\">Lego The Lord of the Rings<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58924\" id=\"answerId58924-label\"><span class=\"label\">Lego The Hobbit<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58925\" id=\"answerId58925-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58926\" id=\"answerId58926-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58927\" id=\"answerId58927-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58928\" id=\"answerId58928-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings Online<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58929\" id=\"answerId58929-label\"><span class=\"label\">The Lord of the Rings: War in the North<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId58930\" id=\"answerId58930-label\"><span class=\"label\">Other (let us know in the comments)<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4255654680 poll-controls\"><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-2267841559 contained disabled full-width large\" disabled type=\"submit\" data-cy=\"poll-answer-btn\">Answer<\/button><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-1624977611 nav next-button small\" title=\"See Results\" aria-label=\"See Results\" data-cy=\"see-results-btn\"><span style=\"white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-align:right\">See Results<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" aria-label=\"See Results\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It\u2019s worth digging into Amazon\u2019s statement a little deeper here. Mention of \u201ca compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien&#8217;s world\u201d suggests a new The Lord of the Rings game is in the works. But what could it be? Perhaps it\u2019s the rumored The Lord of the Rings RPG from Kingdom Come: Deliverance developer Warhorse, which, it\u2019s worth pointing out, is owned by Embracer.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">This isn\u2019t the first time Amazon has canceled a Lord of the Rings MMO. In 2021, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/amazon-cancels-its-the-lord-of-the-rings-mmorpg\">it halted a Lord of the Rings MMORPG<\/a> that was first announced in 2019 amid a contract dispute with Tencent.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We can safely say that Amazon\u2019s The Lord of the Rings MMO is dead, although the mega corp has insisted it\u2019s still working on a new Middle-earth video game. Confirmation comes from Eurogamer, which reported on the cancelation of the game as part of an investigation into Amazon\u2019s push towards generative AI and subsequent widespread [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1934861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1934861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934861\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1934861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1934861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1934861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}