Amazon has announced that its MMORPG, New World, which has been running for four years, will end with no plans for future DLC or updates. This closure marks the end of a significant chapter in the company’s video game development, which had created high expectations among its players, but failed to sustain its growth or user base effectively over time.
Not even in Mordor have they seen so little light as this game
Additionally, the situation at Amazon Games seems complex, as recent reports suggest that the MMO project set in the universe of The Lord of the Rings may have been canceled. The indication comes from Ashleigh Amrine, a gameplay engineer who was laid off during the recent staff reductions at the company. In a LinkedIn post, Amrine expressed her sadness over the departure of the talented team that was working on the game, mentioning that “players would have loved it”. This statement fuels speculation about the uncertain future of the project, which had been in early development stages throughout last year.
There is still no official information confirming the cancellation of the Lord of the Rings MMO, but the lack of communication from Amazon suggests that the situation is not encouraging. In 2024, the head of Amazon Games, Christoph Hartmann, had indicated that they were “trying to find the hook” that would make the game stand out, acknowledging that the intellectual property (IP) was significant and that the project had large-scale ambitions.
With The Lord of the Rings Online celebrating its 18th anniversary, players are facing repetition in the game, which increases the demand for new experiences within this beloved universe. As the future of Amazon’s MMOs remains more uncertain than certain, fans are hoping for answers about the directions the company will take in the sector.
