Amazon Shifts Strategy, Halts Major MMO Development Including Lord of the Rings Game
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Amazon Game Studios has halted a significant amount of its first-party AAA game development work, specifically around MMOs, following company-wide layoffs. This strategic shift has impacted the development of a planned Lord of the Rings MMO, which had recently moved into pre-production. Amazon's head of games states the company is continuing to work on a Lord of the Rings 'game experience' in collaboration with Middle-earth Enterprises.
Facts First
- Amazon has halted a significant amount of first-party AAA game development, specifically around MMOs.
- A planned Lord of the Rings MMO was impacted, having recently moved to pre-production before the layoffs.
- Over 1,000 developers were transitioning onto the Lord of the Rings team from New World when layoffs occurred.
- Amazon's MMORPG New World received an end-of-life announcement and is scheduled to shut down on January 31, 2027.
- Amazon states it is exploring a new Lord of the Rings game experience and is working closely with Middle-earth Enterprises.
What Happened
Amazon Game Studios has undergone a strategic shift, halting a significant amount of its first-party AAA game development work, specifically around MMOs. This decision coincided with company-wide layoffs in October 2025. The shift impacted a planned Lord of the Rings MMO, a partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises first announced in May 2023. According to a source, the Lord of the Rings game had moved to pre-production mere months before the layoffs, and over 1,000 developers had begun transitioning onto the team from the game New World. Amazon's MMORPG New World is scheduled to shut down on January 31, 2027. Amazon's head of games, Jeff Grattis, told Eurogamer that the company is continuing to work on a Lord of the Rings 'game experience' and is working closely with Middle-earth.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a fan of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, particularly those set in expansive fantasy worlds, the landscape of upcoming titles may be changing. The cancellation of major projects like Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO could mean fewer large-scale, subscription-based online worlds entering the market in the near future. This may affect your future gaming choices and the communities you can join. For players of Amazon's existing MMOs, New World is confirmed to be shutting down, which will directly end your access to that game world and its community. The strategic shift away from MMO development by Amazon may also signal a broader industry trend that could influence the types of games other studios choose to fund and develop.
What's Next
The immediate next step is the scheduled shutdown of New World on January 31, 2027. The only MMO developers remaining at Amazon Game Studios are those maintaining Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty. Amazon's creative team is exploring a new game experience for the Lord of the Rings IP, though the specific form this will take is not yet clear. Other studios are reportedly working on Lord of the Rings games, including Warhorse Studios and Crystal Dynamics, which may fill the gap left by Amazon's project. Internally, Amazon's focus appears to have shifted towards other types of projects, as evidenced by the cancellation of other internal games like Project Trident, a third-person action game that utilized generative AI for player-NPC interaction.