After New World: Aeternum already fell sufferer to Amazon’s current cutbacks, it seems just like the in-development MMORPG primarily based on The Lord of the Rings is subsequent on the chopping block. In line with Rock Paper Shotgun, a LinkedIn publish by former senior gameplay engineer at Amazon Video games, Ashleigh Amrine, signifies that the challenge is being cancelled whereas it was nonetheless in improvement.
“This morning I used to be a part of the layoffs at Amazon Video games, alongside my extremely proficient friends on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings recreation (y’all would have beloved it),” wrote Amrine within the since-deleted publish. Amazon has but to make any definitive assertion in regards to the destiny of the challenge.
An MMORPG primarily based on The Lord of the Rings was first introduced all the way in which again in Could 2023, and was being developed by the group behind New World. The title was slated to be a part of a licensing settlement that was signed between Amazon Video games and Center-earth Enterprises, which in flip is owned by Embracer Group.
Few particulars in regards to the challenge had been confirmed, other than the truth that it could characteristic the tales of the 4 core books from The Lord of the Rings – The Hobbit, Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The title was additionally slated to characteristic a persistent world the place gamers may discover Center-earth to fairly an extent.
The cancellation of the challenge seemingly stems from the truth that Amazon is shedding greater than 14,000 of its workers throughout numerous divisions, together with its gaming studios. In an inside memo, the corporate mentioned that its plans for recreation improvement going ahead will revolve round “informal and AI-focused video games”. It had additionally famous that improvement on the Tomb Raider title by Crystal Dynamics can be persevering with.
Alongside the workers affected by the lay-offs, one of many greater casualties of this has been Amazon Recreation Studios’ announcement that New World: Aeternum will not be getting any extra content material. The recently-released Season 10 and Nighthaven will function the ultimate little bit of content material made for the MMORPG, and the Rise of the Indignant Earth growth has additionally been made free to PC gamers.
“As New World acknowledges its fourth anniversary since launching on PC, we replicate on an unimaginable journey formed by our devoted participant group,” wrote Amazon Recreation Studios in its announcement. “Your suggestions and fervour have been instrumental in evolving Aeternum into the world it’s right this moment, and our group is deeply grateful for this shared journey. After 4 years of regular content material updates and a serious new console launch, we’ve reached a degree the place it’s not sustainable to proceed supporting the sport with new content material updates.”
Whereas there may not be any extra content material coming to New World: Aeternum, the studio has made assurances that the servers for the MMORPG will stay stay till the tip of 2026. Any adjustments to those plans are additionally slated to be introduced with at the least six months of discover supplied to gamers.
