Lost Ark
News, coverage and analysis tracking Lost Ark across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Massively Overthinking: Which MMORPG tutorials are actually effective – vs. functionally useless?
This article analyzes the effectiveness of MMORPG tutorials, distinguishing between those that genuinely teach players and those that are functionally useless. Contributors discuss examples like Albion Online's integrated newbie area and Star Wars Galaxies' lack of guidance, highlighting that successful tutorials often blend gameplay with instruction in a low-danger environment. The complexity of MMOs and varying player learning styles are identified as key challenges in tutorial design.
Lord Of The Rings MMO cancelled as Amazon explores ‘new game experience’
Amazon Games has cancelled its Lord of the Rings MMO, which had been in development in various forms since 2019. While the MMO is scrapped, Amazon Games head Jeff Grattis stated the company is exploring a new game experience within Tolkien's world. This cancellation follows significant layoffs within Amazon's games division and the upcoming shutdown of their MMO New World.
Amazon ‘continues to explore a compelling new game experience’ for Lord of the Rings
Amazon's head of games, Jeff Gratis, stated that the company continues to explore a new game experience for The Lord of the Rings IP, despite earlier reports suggesting the MMORPG's cancellation. While the development team for the previously announced Lord of the Rings MMO was reportedly cut, Amazon has not officially confirmed its cancellation and remains committed to exploring the intellectual property.
Amazon pressured one of its teams to develop an AI game, they scrambled to make it work - then got laid off anyway
Developers at Amazon Game Studios were laid off in October 2025, following a company-wide push to integrate generative AI into game development. Project Trident, an AI-powered third-person action game, was cancelled despite internal promise and adherence to the AI mandate. The layoffs affected multiple teams, including those working on New World and The Lord of the Rings MMO, as Amazon shifted its strategy away from big-budget internal development.
Amazon has cancelled The Lord of the Rings MMO, but promises it "continues to explore a compelling new game experience" set in Middle-earth
Amazon has cancelled its previously announced Lord of the Rings MMO, though the company states it is still exploring a new game experience set in Middle-earth. The MMO, a partnership between Amazon Game Studios and Embracer Group, had been in early development and faced numerous setbacks including layoffs and a shift in company focus. While the MMO is officially shelved, Amazon remains committed to the intellectual property.
Lost Ark’s latest patch sees the Return of Argos as a new standalone encounter
Lost Ark's latest patch, 'Return of Argos,' introduces a new standalone, limited-time boss encounter featuring Argos. Players can participate until July 15th to earn coins by defeating Argos and performing Perfect Blocks or Counterattacks. These coins can be exchanged for valuable in-game items like Argos Spirit Chests and Relic Engraving Selection Chests.
Lost Ark preps a frost-themed Argos event and stat boost cards for May, delays server merge
Amazon has announced upcoming May updates for the MMOARPG Lost Ark, including new stat-boosting cards and a frost-themed Argos abyss raid event. The server merge, originally planned for May, has been delayed to an indeterminate future date to allow for further preparation and communication.
A Surprising 17-Years-Later Sequel Is Coming West This Year
NCSoft announced that Aion 2, a sequel to the 2008 MMORPG, will receive a global release on PC via Steam later this year. The game, built on Unreal Engine 5, faced criticism for its microtransactions upon its South Korean and Taiwanese launch. NCSoft has apologized and vowed to make changes for the international release, with more details expected in May.
MMO Week in Review: Gorgon’s drama, TurtleWoW’s demise, Ashes’ docs
This week in the MMORPG genre saw significant drama and updates across various titles. Ashes of Creation's former boss released legal documents, Project Gorgon faced community backlash over bans, and TurtleWoW announced its closure following a lawsuit. Additionally, Book of Travels is transitioning to a solo offline game, while new content and updates arrived for games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Elder Scrolls Online.
Lost Ark rolls out a new raid with The Shadows Rise update as recent Steam reviews shrivel
Amazon has released 'The Shadows Rise' update for Lost Ark, introducing the Serca, Witch Of Pain Shadow Raid, new Tier 4 progression gear, and other endgame content. This update aims to revitalize the game's community and improve its recent performance on Steam, despite recent layoffs and the potential transfer of the game's management to Smilegate.
Recent Ashes of Creation court filings reveal Riot tried to purchase Intrepid for $250 million
Recent court filings reveal that Riot Games explored acquiring Intrepid Studios, the developer of Ashes of Creation, for $250-500 million in 2022. At the time, Riot was heavily invested in its own MMORPG projects, including Hytale and a separate internal MMO, amidst a period of high player interest in the genre following the performance of games like New World and Lost Ark.
Evening Patches
This article provides patch notes for several games, including Hades II's post-launch update, Lost Ark's The Shadows Rise update, and War Robots' 12.0 update. These updates introduce various changes and new content to the respective titles.
MMO Week in Review: EQ Legends’ beta, Ashes of Creation’s drama
This week's MMO news roundup covers the upcoming closed beta for EverQuest Legends and ongoing legal drama surrounding Ashes of Creation. Several other titles like AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity, Dune Awakening, and Temtem Pioneers also saw significant updates or funding news.
Lost Ark's Matt Huston delivers a lonely final video roadmap, and it's breaking my heart
Lost Ark franchise lead Matt Huston delivered the game's final video roadmap, announcing a shift to text-based updates following recent departures from the Amazon Games team. The roadmap details upcoming content including Shadow Raids, Chaos Rifts, new gear, and the Catarum Archipelago region. Huston expressed gratitude for the community's support and acknowledged the contributions of former team members Roxanne Sabo and Henry Stelter.
Lost Ark delivers its last video roadmap update, teasing new raids, mechanics, and a region this spring
Amazon has announced that its roadmap videos for Lost Ark will cease, with future updates shifting to blog posts. Franchise lead Matt Huston previewed upcoming content including new raids, mechanics, and the Catarum Archipelago region for spring and summer. Despite community support for Huston, players have expressed dissatisfaction with recent layoffs and the game's declining player count on Steam.
Well Fed: If MMORPGs were actually candy…
This article humorously compares various MMORPGs to different types of candy, exploring their unique characteristics and player experiences. Games like Final Fantasy XIV are likened to complex UK chocolate bars, while Elder Scrolls Online is compared to steady gummy bears, and World of Warcraft to the distinct sour gummy worms.
MMO Week in Review: EverQuest’s legacy, Camelot out of chains
This week's MMO news includes Daybreak's announcement of EverQuest Legacy, a spinoff of the classic game, and the surprise early access launch of Camelot Unchained after eight years in beta. Several other MMOs received updates, including V Rising, New World, and EverQuest II, while Epic Games faced significant layoffs due to overspending and a slump in Fortnite's performance.
Vague Patch Notes: Cringe is good
This opinion piece argues that 'cringe' elements in game marketing, such as those seen in Amazon's promotional videos for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, are actually good and effective. The author suggests that genuine enthusiasm and a lack of shame, even if job-related, foster authentic connection and enrich the player experience, contrasting it with negative behaviors.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 559: Not all Marvel Heroes wear capes
The Massively OP Podcast episode 559 covers the relaunch of Marvel Heroes, layoffs at Lost Ark, and the settlement of the EverQuest emulator lawsuit. Hosts Bree and Justin also discuss various MMO-related topics in a "Daily Grind Blitz" segment, including player habits and game design ideas.
MMO Week in Review: EverQuest celebrates 27 years and a lawsuit settlement in its favor
EverQuest celebrated its 27th anniversary with a lawsuit settlement that favors Daybreak Game Company, keeping emulators offline. This week also saw layoffs at Amazon for Lost Ark developers, Facebook scaling back VR metaverse ambitions, and discussions around various MMORPG updates and industry trends.