Standing Stone Games, the developer behind the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, has now responded to the announcement of the new MMO from Amazon Games. In a post on their own forum, the developer comments on the supposed competition and explains how their own project will proceed.
What is The Lord of the Rings Online? The Lord of the Rings Online is an MMORPG based on the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. The developer behind the game is Standing Stone Games (formerly Turbine). They have been providing updates to the game for 17 years, such as an updated graphics, while it is published by Daybreak Games.
Check out a trailer for The Lord of the Rings Online MMORPG here.
Currently, the MMORPG HdRO has switched from a subscription to a Free2Play model. This means many expansions can be played for free. At its core, it offers the following features (via Steam):
- Travel through the world of Middle-earth and explore famous locations like the Shire, Lothlórien, or the Mines of Moria.
- Create your personal character from 4 races, 9 classes, and level it up to level 105.
- You also have access to 10 crafting professions and 7 career paths.
- Experience battles together or with customizable AI-controlled soldiers.
- Create your own legendary items like Bilbo’s Sting or Gandalf’s Glamdring.
- Use well-known locations like the Shire to grow plants or swing the hammer in the Dwarven halls of Ered Luin.
- As Sauron’s servant, dive into PvMP battles (
Player vs Monster Player
). - Finally, experience the world of HdRO mostly for free without monthly fees.
Creators of the MMORPG HdRO: ‘The road goes on and on …’
What does Standing Stone Games say about Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO? The announcement from Amazon Games has been brought to Standing Stone Games by fans of The Lord of the Rings Online MMORPG.
Community Manager Cordovan took the opportunity last Wednesday to give a statement in the forum of the in-house MMORPG regarding the new Lord of the Rings MMO from Amazon Games. In it, he first reassures the worried
community that HdRO will not disappear (via forums.lotro.com). Specifically, Cordovan shares:
During the past days, we have received a lot of hints from excited but also worried community members regarding the new MMO in the Tolkien universe from Amazon Games.
Like you, we and our partners at Middle-earth Enterprises are huge fans of The Lord of the Rings Online. It’s popular, it’s 16, it’s a classic.
HdRO is like the long-lived tree-herders, Elves, or Dwarves; and we mortals are the guardians of HdRO and its community. Standing Stone is pursuing every intention to grow and support the community. The road goes on and on …
Community Manager Cordovan, (via forums.lotro.com)
The post concludes with a quote from an old travel song from The Lord of the Rings. It has received over a hundred reactions, including many likes.
What does Amazon Games say about HdRO? Christoph Hartmann, the head of Amazon Games, is meanwhile fighting back. Although he comments that he is a fan of HdRO – calling it not a bad game
– he claims that Amazon’s MMO is worlds better
(via Gamespot).
For the end of 2023, the next expansion was already announced in January (via lotro.com). It remains exciting to see which of the two titles will ultimately appeal most to fans of the Tolkien universe.
What do you think? Have you tried HDRO? Is it the optimal MMORPG for fans of The Lord of the Rings, or is there room for improvement? Write your thoughts in the comments.
To find out about other story-driven MMORPGs that might interest you, check here: The 5 best story MMORPGs you can play in 2023.
