Amazon’s MMO Pullback Reportedly Reaches Lord of the Rings Project

Amazon Games’ long-silent Lord of the Rings massively multiplayer online game (MMO) has reportedly been canceled, according to reports published by Eurogamer on May 14, 2026. The project was first announced in 2023 as a collaboration between Amazon Games and Embracer Group’s Middle-earth Enterprises.

Since then, Amazon has provided few public updates about the MMO, fueling speculation around its status.

Amazon has not formally confirmed the MMO’s cancellation. However, Gaming business lead at Amazon, Jeffrey Gattis, told Eurogamer the company is still working on “a compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien’s world” and remains “excited about the IP.”

Amazon Games Shifts Away from MMO Development

The reported cancellation comes during a broader transition inside Amazon’s gaming business. Throughout 2023 to 2025, the company cut hundreds of jobs across Amazon Games and wider corporate operations.

According to a memo previously obtained by Variety, Amazon planned to halt a “significant amount” of its first-party AAA game development work, specifically around MMO projects.

The Lord of the Rings MMO was reportedly affected during the same restructuring period tied to New World: Aeternum, Amazon’s flagship MMO. According to Eurogamer’s sources, more than 1K developers were expected to transition from New World onto the Middle-earth project before the reported cancellation halted those plans.

Project Trident Report Adds to Scrutiny Around Amazon Games

Wider industry investigation also detailed Amazon’s internal push toward generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) projects through a canceled title known as Project Trident. The report described repeated design pivots following an internal AI initiative introduced in 2024, alongside broader uncertainty across multiple teams within Amazon Game Studios.

While Amazon officially attributed its layoffs to reducing bureaucracy and realigning business priorities, CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged in June 2025 that AI-driven efficiency gains would lead to significant workforce reductions.

Although the MMO now appears shelved. Amazon’s latest statement suggests the company still plans to pursue another Lord of the Rings game project tied to the Middle-earth license.