But don’t expect New World 2.0

The team at Orange County is rightfully proud of New World’s success, and everything the studio has learned about launching and sustaining a popular MMO along the way. But they’re also determined to deliver a truly unique and differentiated experience in this upcoming The Lord of the Rings game.

“It’s going to be a game that represents the values and enjoyment that people get out of these books,” Rich said. “This will be a game that’s bespoke to the property, that’s appropriate for The Lord of the Rings.”

That’s not to say the team will start entirely from scratch, however. As players and developers know, building an MMO is especially challenging, but the Orange County studio already has several tried-and-true technical achievements under its belt. New World also has substantial new features in development, and that basis plus new innovations will provide a compelling environment to create a virtual Middle-earth experience.

For example, New World enabled huge, multiplayer battles at a scale, which is uncommon in video games due to the sheer complexity of enabling dozens of players to seamlessly interact within the same instance. This proficiency has a clear application and relevance to Tolkien’s Third Age, which famously features large-scale battles of its own. In fact, this game will give the studio a new opportunity to take much of what worked so well for New World, revisit it with the benefits of several years’ worth of technology advancements, and apply them in a way that’s relevant to The Lord of the Rings. While New World’s Azoth Engine will form the foundation of the game, the Orange County studio plans to evolve that engine considerably to deliver something that feels distinct from New World and fitting for the world of Middle-earth. The team has some big plans for the next generation of New World’s Azoth Engine that will unlock exciting new possibilities for its take on Middle-earth.