KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • A laid-off Amazon Games developer says the LoTR MMO has been axed
  • This follows Amazon stepping away from MMOs and ending New World development
  • Layoffs reportedly hit at least 14,000 roles across Amazon this week, including Amazon Games Orange County

Another Middle-earth project bites the dust. Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO has reportedly been cancelled, according to a developer laid off this week. The claim lines up with Amazon Games’ stated move away from MMOs and the end of development on New World. If true, Amazon’s second swing at a Tolkien MMO is over before it really began—and players in the UAE waiting on a big Prime-backed Middle-earth adventure can stop holding their breath.

What’s actually been reported

A single post set the fire, but the context makes it believable.

  • A former Amazon Games employee said on LinkedIn they were laid off alongside peers on New World and “our fledgling Lord of the Rings game”.
  • Rock Paper Shotgun spotted the post; VGC reported it on 30 October 2025.
  • Amazon hasn’t issued a public confirmation in this report.

The wording matters. It’s a personal post, not a formal statement, so treat it as a strong signal—especially given Amazon’s broader retreat from MMOs the same week. Still, without an official note, this sits in the “reportedly cancelled” column rather than confirmed fact.

Why a cancellation makes sense right now

The timing isn’t random; it’s structural.

  • Amazon said this week it’s stepping away from MMO development.
  • Development on New World has ended, with layoffs at the Orange County studio.
  • Company-wide cuts reportedly hit at least 14,000 jobs.

When a publisher exits a genre, unshipped titles in that lane are first on the chopping block. A fledgling LoTR MMO—early, expensive, and years from launch—would be hard to justify while sunsetting New World. It’s cold logic, but it tracks with how big organisations unwind risk.

What the LoTR MMO was supposed to be

On paper, it sounded ambitious and fairly traditional.

  • Announced in 2023 as a partnership with Embracer, which holds Middle-earth rights.
  • Pitched as a “persistent open-world MMO adventure”.
  • Planned to span events from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

That description points to a classic live-service MMO: long content tails, heavy operations, and big licensing costs. All three collide head-on with a strategic pivot away from MMOs. If you’re trying to reduce burn, you don’t keep the most expensive furnace running.

What’s next for Amazon Games

Exiting MMOs doesn’t mean exiting games.

  • The studio mix and product slate are likely to skew towards lower-risk, non-MMO projects.
  • Live operations teams from New World will either be reassigned or leave, based on the layoffs.
  • Don’t be surprised if Amazon invests more around transmedia (TV + game IP), where it already has momentum.

For context on Amazon’s broader entertainment moves in gaming IP, see our explainer on the God of War series at Amazon—different franchise, same corporate mothership. Closer to the Gulf ecosystem, Amazon Web Services continues to pop up in regional developer news, like AWS teaming with Savvy Games Group. None of that replaces an MMO, but it shows where the energy may go.

FAQs

Is Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO officially cancelled?

There’s no formal press statement in the report. A laid-off developer’s post claims the project was cut, and it aligns with Amazon stepping away from MMOs and ending New World development. So: reportedly cancelled, pending official confirmation.

Why is Amazon moving away from MMOs?

The report notes Amazon said it’s stepping away from MMO development this week. MMOs are costly to build and run, and New World’s development is ending—so the shift reduces risk and ongoing spend.

What was planned for the LoTR MMO?

A “persistent open-world MMO adventure” covering events from The Hobbit through The Lord of the Rings, developed with Embracer, which controls the Middle-earth rights.