Amazon Game Studios’ Lord of the Rings MMO Project Reportedly Cancelled Again Following Mass Layoffs

Amazon Game Studios’ Major Layoffs Impact Lord of the Rings MMO Development

Amazon has recently made headlines due to significant layoffs, affecting over 14, 000 employees. This round of cuts has not only halted progress on the multiplayer game New World but has also reportedly led to the cancellation of the Lord of the Rings MMO for the second time.

Confirmation from Industry Insiders

Ashleigh Amrine, a former senior gameplay engineer at Amazon Game Studios, confirmed the unfortunate news in a post on her LinkedIn page. She noted that the “fledgling Lord of the Rings game” was among the projects affected by the layoffs, stating she felt lucky to have collaborated with a talented team.

“This morning I was part of layoffs at Amazon Games, alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (ya’ll would have loved it).It’s always tough to see such a strong team go through something like this – I’ve been lucky to work with some of the most skilled, creative, and kind developers I’ve ever met here.”

History of the Game’s Development

The Lord of the Rings MMO has had a tumultuous journey; it was initially cancelled due to a contractual dispute with Tencent before being revived in 2023. Despite this brief resurgence, Amazon’s current staffing changes raise significant doubts about its future. The tech giant has yet to provide an official statement regarding the game’s status after Amrine’s remarks, which align with the sentiments expressed by Steve Boom, head of audio, Twitch, and games at Amazon.

Amazon’s Shift in Strategy

Boom described the layoffs at Amazon Game Studios as “significant, ”specifically mentioning that Amazon is ceasing development work on first-party MMOs. This pivot indicates a broader strategic change within the company’s gaming division, possibly reflecting challenges in the MMO genre.

Initially revived with plans to utilize an advanced version of the engine that powered New World, the MMO was still in its early stages of development according to Christoph Hartmann, head of Amazon Game Studios. The state of the game—as it had only recently resumed development—left Amazon with little choice but to cut its losses, especially given the uncertainties surrounding what could be salvaged from its prior iteration.

Looking Ahead

As it stands, confirmation from Amazon regarding the future of the Lord of the Rings MMO remains pending. Fans and interested gamers should temper their expectations about its potential appearance at upcoming events such as the Summer Game Fest.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. For now, it appears that those hoping for a new Lord of the Rings MMO will need to be patient.

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