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Amazon Cancels LOTR MMORPG, Shifts to Other MMOs

5/14/2026

37 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Amazon Cancels MMORPG

Amazon Games announced on May 14, 2026 that it cancelled the Lord of the Rings MMORPG.
The project was in pre-production when Amazon suffered 14,000 layoffs in late 2025.
Jeff Grattis, Amazon’s head of games, said the team will keep exploring a new Middle-Earth experience.
Remaining MMO staff now focus on publishing Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty.
New World is scheduled to go offline on 31 January 2027.

Summary

Amazon Moves On

Amazon Games VP Christoph Hartmann told fans to “move on” from The Lord of the Rings Online to the new MMO.
The Tolkien franchise has historically performed poorly in games, with Shadow of Mordor cited as a rare hit.
Despite Amazon’s push, The Lord of the Rings Online remains active after nearly 20 years of operation.
Eurogamer obtained Jeff Grattis’s cancellation statement after requesting an update on the project’s status.

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Amazon Cancels MMORPG

Amazon Games announced on May 14, 2026 that it cancelled the Lord of the Rings MMORPG.
The project was in pre-production when Amazon suffered 14,000 layoffs in late 2025.
Jeff Grattis, Amazon’s head of games, said the team will keep exploring a new Middle-Earth experience.
Remaining MMO staff now focus on publishing Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty.
New World is scheduled to go offline on 31 January 2027.

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