All good things come in threes? Although Amazon has already failed two attempts at a “Lord of the Rings” MMO, they are not letting go of the Tolkien license. As Amazon Games boss Jeff Gattis has now confirmed, the next Middle-earth project is already in the pipeline.
If you want to experience a truly gripping adventure in Middle-earth today, you have to look far back – because the last real single-player highlight was almost a decade ago.
Instead, the recent past has been full of bitter disappointments such as the playing debacle “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” which have pretty much damaged the reputation of the legendary brand.
Amazon hasn’t had a lucky hand recently either: its ambitious plans to implement a huge MMO in the Tolkien universe have already failed twice in recent years due to licensing disputes and internal restructuring.
But despite the setbacks, fans don’t have to bury their heads in the sand: Behind the scenes, work is already underway on a completely new gaming experience that should finally do justice to the template again.
Tolkien’s world in focus: Amazon is busy pondering
Addressed to the canceled online role-playing game Jeff Gattis, General Manager of Amazon Gaming, assured his colleagues at IGNthat you don’t turn your back on Middle-earth.
“Well, nothing has been canceled per se. It’s not the most satisfactory answer, but the truth is we’re still looking at a number of different things,” Gattis clarified.
Accordingly, Amazon Games is currently in an intensive concept phase to explore the right direction for the next big “Lord of the Rings” adventure. And one potential candidate seems to have already made an impression internally.
The Amazon Games boss continued: “I looked at a project a few weeks ago that I found quite fascinating and that we might be able to move forward with.”
Nevertheless, Gattis urged patience: “But evaluating different concepts is about figuring out which game we want to make, which is the right one for our core target group and which is the right one for a broader audience. And I hope that we can do that.”
No competition for the upcoming Warhorse RPG
Accordingly, it will probably take some time before we can expect the first solid information about the new “Lord of the Rings” project. But the fact that a game is still being planned – which, given Amazon Games’ changed focus, should probably be a story-focused single-player experience – should give many fans a sigh of relief.
An important clarification from Amazon is also interesting: the planned game will be completely independent of the one recently revealed Middle-earth project from the “Kingdom Come: Deliverance” makers by Warhorse Studios. So fans don’t have to worry that the two titles will get in each other’s way.
In addition, Gattis emphasized that Amazon relies heavily on developing video games based on established brands. In addition to “The Lord of the Rings,” this also includes James Bond and of course „Tomb Raider“. Creating completely new IPs, on the other hand, takes a back seat.
“To be honest, we haven’t really focused on building a whole new IP around our own characters and the like. There are a lot of things we’re investing in, what I would call more innovative game mechanics. And that could then develop into an IP. (…),” Gattis continued.
He concluded: “We almost wish that this stuff would move along faster so I could provide hard evidence instead of just saying, ‘Trust me, we’ve got something in the pipeline.’ But everything in its own time.”
Aside from the video games, Middle-earth fans can look forward to new series and films: the third season of the Amazon show “The Rings of Power” will launch on November 11, 2026, while the Pre-production of the fourth season already rolling out in autumn. And in December 2027, “The Hunt for Gollum” will finally be a real cinema highlight again.
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