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Tactical co-op title Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly being retooled after disappointing feedback
Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly retooling the tactical co-op title Horizon Hunters Gathering due to negative feedback from playtests. The game, initially planned as a live service multiplayer experience, will have its scope reduced, and there's a possibility of cancellation if it doesn't meet Sony's expectations by year's end. Horizon Steel Frontiers, an MMORPG from the same IP, is also in development by NCsoft.
Horizon Hunters Gathering reportedly scrapping live service elements following closed beta
Guerilla Games is reportedly overhauling its upcoming game Horizon Hunters Gathering, removing live service elements like microtransactions following negative feedback from its closed beta. The game will shift to a more standard co-op multiplayer experience with a smaller scope. Its fate remains uncertain as it must impress PlayStation executives by December.
MMO Week in Review: Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty are going home
Amazon has announced it will cease publishing duties for the MMORPGs Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty, returning them to their respective studios, Smilegate and NCsoft. The article also touches on updates and developments for other MMOs including EverQuest Legends, World of Warcraft, Ashes of Creation, and Star Wars The Old Republic.
Throne & Liberty delays the Colossus Vegamor update into September ahead of the transition back to NCsoft
Throne & Liberty's Colossus Vegamor update, originally planned for August, has been delayed to September to ensure a smooth transition of publishing duties from Amazon back to NCsoft. This delay aims to allow both teams to focus on the service transition while also delivering a more polished experience for the world boss update.
Vague Patch Notes: How Amazon blew up money unnecessarily and left online games unceremoniously
This analysis critiques Amazon's approach to online game publishing, citing the premature cancellation of Crucible and the relinquishing of publishing rights for Blue Protocol and Throne and Liberty back to developers Bandai Namco and NCsoft, respectively. The author argues that Amazon's strategy involved excessive spending and a focus on potential hits rather than fostering the development of its games, contrasting it with the successful turnaround of Final Fantasy XIV.
Throne & Liberty buffs party play and player housing in today’s 4.7.0 update
Amazon has released the 4.7.0 update for Throne & Liberty, which focuses on enhancing party play features with new tools like ready checks and map icon sharing, alongside improved co-op rewards and boss drops. The update also includes quality-of-life improvements from NCsoft, such as better inventory management and expanded player housing options, including the ability to own more homes and visit others. Additionally, the patch introduces weapon balance adjustments for all classes.
Amazon’s MMO run will be coming to end sooner than thought
Amazon Game Studios is ending its Western publishing operations for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty. Smilegate will take over Lost Ark in early 2027, while FirstSpark Games/NCSoft will manage Throne and Liberty starting in Q4 2026. This marks a significant shift for Amazon's ambitions in the MMO publishing market, following the shutdown of New World and the cancellation of other projects.
Amazon drops Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty
Amazon is ending its publishing deals for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty in Western markets. NCSoft will take over publishing for Throne and Liberty near the end of 2026, while Smilegate will do the same for Lost Ark in early 2027. This move signifies the end of Amazon's significant ambitions in the MMO publishing space, following earlier shifts away from big-budget game development.
MMORPG Throne and Liberty transitions from Amazon Game Studios to NC (formerly NCSoft)
NC (formerly NCSoft) will take over global publishing duties for the MMORPG Throne and Liberty from Amazon Game Studios, aiming to consolidate it into a single online service by Q4 2026. FirstSpark Games, an NC subsidiary, is collaborating with Amazon on the transition, ensuring player accounts and assets remain unchanged across platforms like Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. NC stated this move allows them to directly support the game and shape its future.
Amazon will cease publishing Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty, sending them back to Smilegate and NCsoft
Amazon Game Studios will cease publishing the MMORPGs Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty in the West. Operations for Lost Ark will transition back to Smilegate in early 2027, while Throne & Liberty will move to FirstSpark Games / NCsoft in Q4 2026. This change follows Amazon's earlier layoffs and scaling back of its community teams.
NCsoft Q2 2026: Lineage Classic is booming as NCsoft pours money into Guild Wars 3
NCsoft reported a 38% revenue increase in Q2 2026, largely driven by the booming popularity of Lineage Classic in Korea and ad revenue from the JustPlay mobile app. Despite a decline in Guild Wars 2 revenue from its Q1 peak, it remains up year-over-year. NCsoft is investing an additional $85 million into ArenaNet for the development of Guild Wars 3, which is slated for alpha and beta testing in 2027.
Aion 2 details changes for party sizes, activities, and founder’s pack benefits for its global release
NCsoft provided new details for the global release of its MMORPG Aion 2 during its first livestream. Changes include increased party sizes for dungeons and raids, stat normalization for the 10v10 PvP mode, and a PvP toggle flag available at launch. Founder's packs will include 30 days of subscription time, and cosmetics from these packs will not be sold separately.
Blade & Soul Neo’s Reignited update includes the Warden and a boosted server, and it launches August 18
NCsoft announced the Reignited update for Blade & Soul Neo, launching August 18th. This update introduces the new Warden class, a boosted server for faster progression, Poharan's Dungeon with speedrun potential, and various system improvements. Players can pre-register for rewards, including exclusive cosmetics and an all-new boss.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG studio’s reputation has changed most dramatically over time?
This article discusses how the reputations of MMORPG studios like NCsoft and Blizzard Entertainment have changed dramatically over time. It highlights how studios can recover from past missteps through actions like reviving games or developing successful franchises, while others squander initial goodwill.
MMO Week in Review: I want to believe
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates and announcements for numerous titles including Stars Reach, EverQuest Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and Final Fantasy XIV. Key stories include Stars Reach's official early access date, Elder Scrolls Online's post-layoff roadmap, and Guild Wars 3 revealing its composers. The article also touches on game development, business practices, and player sentiment across various MMORPGs.
Whatever happened to NCsoft’s MMORPGs Blade & Soul and Blade & Soul NEO?
NCsoft's MMORPGs Blade & Soul and Blade & Soul NEO remain playable, though content updates have differed. Blade & Soul NEO has received monthly updates since February, including new dungeons and class balance changes, while the original Blade & Soul has seen a slowdown in major content patches, primarily receiving events and cash shop updates.
NCsoft’s shooter MMO Cinder City schedules a pre-alpha weekend test for August 14, with sign-ups now open
NCsoft and BigFire Games are holding a pre-alpha weekend test for their upcoming shooter MMO, Cinder City, from August 14-16 exclusively for U.S. residents. Sign-ups are now open, with selected applicants receiving further instructions on August 12th under an NDA. The game is projected for a 2026 release.
Massively Overthinking: Are there any MMORPGs or MMO features that are good kinda by accident?
This article discusses MMORPGs and their features that became popular or fun by accident, often in ways unintended by developers. Examples include "alting" and the architect system in City of Heroes, content trains in Guild Wars 2, and the unintended consequences of Grand Theft Auto Online's content creator. World of Warcraft and Fortnite are also cited for features that evolved beyond their original design intent.
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
Betawatch: Aion 2 outlines head start plans as Guild Wars 3 outlines its story premise
NCsoft has detailed head start plans for Aion 2, which is slated for a global launch in September 2026. Guild Wars 3 has also outlined its story premise, with a beta expected in fall 2027. The article also provides an extensive list of other MMORPGs currently in various stages of testing and development.
