Free-to-Play "AAA" Lord of the Rings MMO in the Works
 

Los Angeles-based developer Athlon Games announced this week it would be teaming up with an as-of-yet-unnamed partner for a new free-to-play Lord of the Rings MMO. It isn't yet known how the PC and console title, which is said to be a prequel taking place before the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will differ from Standing Stone Games' 2007 The Lord of the Rings Online MMO, which is still alive and well. ...it had made the decision to pursue the game, "in light of the resurgence of interest in The Lord of the Rings IP". That's presumably in reference to the fact that Amazon Studios is currently developing a new five-season, $1billion USD Lord of the Rings television series, which is due to enter production next year with an estimated 2021 start date. Releasing a video game to coincide with the TV show's launch would certainly seem to make good business sense.

http://www.hardocp.com/news/2018/09/..._mmo_in_works/