Amazon’s Gaming Woes Continue

Amazon’s video game division has canceled of an online role-playing game based on the “Lord of the Rings” series. 

First announced in 2019, the game was a collaboration between Amazon Game Studios and China-based video game holding company Leyou Technologies. 

Due to contract disputes between Amazon and Leyou’s parent company, Tencent, the game was shelved. 

“We love the ‘Lord of the Rings’ IP and are disappointed that we won’t be bringing this game to customers,” said an Amazon spokesperson. 

This isn’t Amazon’s first misstep in gaming. 

The company emerged as a major player in the industry following the launch of Amazon Game Studios and the acquisition of streaming service Twitch for $970 million in 2014. At the time, it was the biggest acquisition in Amazon’s history. 

But despite the bevy of resources and time, the company has been unable to release a successful video game. 

After years of development, Amazon planned to fully release “Crucible,” a free-to-play, multiplayer shooting game. However, a beta that failed to meet expectations caused the cancelation of that project in October. 

Last year, Amazon was set to debut a game based on colonial America titled “New World,” but its preliminary content was deemed racist and offensive by a consultant, forcing a delay to 2021.

Amazon is spending nearly $500 million annually on its game studio and, so far, has nothing substantial to show for it.