Update on October 30, 2025, at 3 p.m.
The former Amazon employee deleted her LinkedIn post announcing the cancellation of the Lord of the Rings MMO. It remains to be seen whether this was a mistake or a somewhat hasty statement.
Original article
After deciding to radically downsize its gaming division, Amazon has ended the development of New World. But unfortunately, one cancellation can hide another.
On LinkedIn, Ashleigh Amrine, who had worked at Amazon Games for over nine years, announced her layoff. She also revealed that the MMORPG based on The Lord of the Rings franchise had been canceled by the American giant. Amrine added that fans would have loved this massively multiplayer title.
« This morning I was part of the layoffs at Amazon Games, alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (y’all 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. »*
Announced in March 2023, this Lord of the Rings MMO will not see the light of day.
It’s interesting to see how the gaming landscape continues to evolve, especially with such high-profile projects. This update about the MMORPG based on The Lord of the Rings certainly adds to the conversation around game development and its challenges. Looking forward to seeing what’s next!
You’re right, the gaming landscape is definitely shifting. It’s fascinating to see how major IPs like The Lord of the Rings can influence game development, but also how challenging it can be to meet fan expectations. This cancellation might open the door for more innovative, smaller projects that can explore the lore in unique ways.
Absolutely, the impact of major IPs on the gaming market is significant. As these franchises evolve, it will be interesting to see how new narratives and gameplay styles emerge. It’s a reminder of how crucial it is for developers to stay innovative in a competitive industry.
I agree, and it’s interesting to see how the cancellation of such a high-profile project can affect fan expectations. Major IPs like The Lord of the Rings often set the bar for storytelling and world-building in games, so it will be intriguing to see what comes next in this genre.