It sounds like it's going to be a long time until we actually get to see this project in action, but Amazon Game Studios has announced that it's working on a The Lord of the Rings MMO. It's going to be a free-to-play title, and it's aiming to release on "PC and consoles". It's fair to assume it's a PS5 title.
The press release for this one doesn't say much, unfortunately. Amazon Game Studios VP Christoph Hartmann goes on about "bringing Middle-earth to life", and basically just being respectful to the beloved source material, but there's no real mention of what the game's going to be like. Heck, the project doesn't even have a name yet, let alone any kind of release window.
It's always difficult to get excited about announcements like this, but what would you want to see from a new Lord of the Rings game? Is an MMO the route you'd take, or would you prefer something more traditional? Don't be tempted by the ring in the comments section below.
Comments 28
If the writing is anything like the recent series, I expect it won't do well with fans.
This has a lot of potential! Not my usual thing but I'd definitely be up for some LoTR MMO'ing. Need to see some gameplay
New World 2: The Flop
“Amazon” and “ being respectful to the beloved source material” do not go hand in hand.
LotR Online was pretty great to be honest. It was also made by an actual dev though. Isn’t it still going?
@PenguinLtd its funny how when Fortnite was being shown, the main feature was the save the world mode and the battle royale was just tacked on to see if they could capitalise on the hype of PUBG and now everyone sees Fortnite as the blueprint
LOTRO was pretty awesome back in the day. Interested, but Free 2 Play usually comes with heaps of baggage that I stay away from. We shall see how this shapes up.
If it's anything like their recent New World we are in danger people.
How would you rank Hobbit, ROP and Shadow of games?
All three are garbage, but I'm curios to see which one is the most hated. Personally Hobbit disappointed me the most.
@Heavy_Artilery Shadow of Mordor/War are not garbage, they are not hated, and you're certainly in the minority if you think they are.
Amazon's experience in the MMO sector is predominantly New World. I have no opinions on it either way, but it hasn't exactly set the world alight.
@JohntheRaptor They probably have the same exact fans as AC and Horizon so they are garbage
Expect to compete with FFXIV and WoW, at which point you may as well just call it a day here and now.
With Amazon making this game it will be trash. It will b****** cannon just like that show of there's.
Part of me wants to say that I'd rather have a Wheel of Time MMO seeing as how one of those doesn't already exist. But given how that TV series turned out under Amazon, I think it'd be best to let another studio take a crack at it.
I want to live in universe, where MMO doesn't exist. Pitty I live here in this hell where every developer doesn't think if it's gonna be good game, but how to screw it into multiplayer or MMO.
@JohntheRaptor I heavily dislike open world games but I had a blast with shadow of Mordor not garbage at all. WB ruined the legacy of that series with shadow of war's mtx
LOTRO is still a thing tho' not under its original publisher / dev, I've not really been following it for many years (quit shortly after Isengard launch). I have various memories of that game, including one side quest in Eregion that literally had you picking up the Fellowship of the Ring's litter. Also trying to level up a Hobbit character as far as possible without leaving the Shire (mainly through farming and cooking). I also use it as a good example of video-game scaling syndrome: compare the distance from the Buckleberry Ferry to Brandywine Bridge in the game (less than a minute at normal run speed IIRC) with how far it's described as being in the book.
If Amazon want to gamify one of their properties I'd prefer if it was 'The Boys' - they actually improved on the source material with that by most accounts.
If it doesn't feature Shelob, the unholy spiderspawn of Ungoliant Eater of Light as a supersexy, big tiddy Goth MILF, I'm not interested.
@nessisonett it is, and it's pretty fun to play. The character models are dated, but the scenery still holds up (imo) looks great in some places.
It's pretty generous for a free to play game to.
@Balosi It’s good that it’s been kept going, there’s always that group of fans who’ve formed a community within a world like that. I saw EVE Online turned 20 this week which is crazy, I remember watching my Dad play that one.
@Heavy_Artilery why engage with people online at all if you are going to have this attitude?
@IamJT Why are you in favor of blind positivity? Even if the product is trash?
@nessisonett yeah the longevity of MMOs on pc can be amazing. Quite a few have been around over 20 years. It seems you only need a relative handful of dedicated players to keep one going, proof that not everything needs to be mass market.
@Heavy_Artilery nothing I said indicates that is the case.
Tolkien continues to roll in his grave. If it’s as much a joke as the show was please don’t even bother.
Zero interest in a MMO, hard pass.
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