Throne & Liberty
News, coverage and analysis tracking Throne & Liberty across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Throne and Liberty adds new field bosses, armor sets, and crafting recipes with its latest patch
Throne and Liberty's latest patch introduces two new field bosses, Grimturg and Exodus, to the Nix region. The update also adds 14 new armor pieces, three new armor sets, 20 accessories, and new crafting recipes, alongside improvements to equipment growth rates and item level caps.
Perfect Ten: MMORPGs that rebranded along the way
This article explores ten Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) that underwent name changes between their development and official release. It details the original titles and the reasons for rebranding, including Lord of the Rings Online (formerly Middle-earth Online) and TERA (formerly The Exiled Realm of Arborea).
MMOs Have “Stagnated,” Guild Wars 3 Studio Head Says
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson believes the MMO genre has stagnated, with many players still engaging with games over a decade old. He aims for Guild Wars 3 to introduce "wild, crazy ideas" to revitalize the genre by addressing approachability and respecting players' time, offering a less demanding experience than traditional MMOs.
MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
Throne and Liberty’s abbreviated August update adds Snowsoul Weapons and new achievements in Nix
Throne and Liberty's latest August update introduces Snowsoul Weapons, a new tier of equipment above Ascended Archboss Weapons, and new achievements within the Nix region. While the major Colossus Vegamor update has been delayed to September due to Amazon's publishing arm restructuring, this interim patch also removes some older Nix achievements as it modifies the area's mechanics.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 576: Peering into the future of MMOs
The Massively OP Podcast episode 576 features hosts Justin and Bree discussing the future of MMORPGs, including Star Wars: The Old Republic's update plans, World of Warcraft's latest patch, and delays for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty due to Amazon's exit from publishing. They also cover Q2 MMO financials and introduce a new 'spotlight of the week' segment.
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 is severing ties with two other MMOs
Amazon is transferring publishing rights for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to other companies. This move indicates a shift in Amazon's strategy for its involvement in the massively multiplayer online game market.
Amazon Will Soon Be Out Of The MMO Business Entirely
Amazon Game Studios is exiting the massively multiplayer online (MMO) business entirely, handing over Western operations of "Throne and Liberty" and "Lost Ark" back to their original developers, NC and Smilegate, respectively. This move follows the earlier shutdown announcement for their own MMO, "New World," and the cancellation of a "Lord of the Rings" MMO. Amazon had previously published and operated these live-service titles in the West.
Amazon to give live service operations of Lost Ark to Smilegate
Amazon is transferring the live service operations for the MMORPGs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty in Western territories to Smilegate, the games' developer and original publisher. This change will take effect in early 2027 for Lost Ark and Q4 2026 for Throne and Liberty, with no expected impact on player experience. Smilegate will assume full responsibility for managing these titles in North America and other Western regions.
Amazon to rescind its publisher role on Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty by early 2027
Amazon Game Studios will cease its publishing roles for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty by early 2027, returning them to their respective developers, Smilegate and NC. This transition marks a shift for Amazon away from third-party MMO publishing as they focus on other ventures like Amazon Luna and first-party development.
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.
Amazon are getting out of the MMO game, handing control of Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to developers, but it won't all be smooth for players
Amazon Game Studios is exiting the global publishing of MMOs, handing over control of Lost Ark to Smilegate and Throne and Liberty to FireSpark Games. While Amazon will cease live service operations for Lost Ark in early 2027, some player data like chat history and friend memos will be lost. This transition aims to align global updates with Korean releases for Lost Ark and is expected to be less disruptive for Throne and Liberty. The move comes as Amazon shifts its focus away from external publishing and internal MMO development.
Amazon hands off Throne and Liberty to NC, seemingly ending its MMO era
Amazon Game Studios is handing over the reins of its MMORPG Throne and Liberty to developer FirstSpark Games and publisher NC, marking a potential end to Amazon's involvement in the MMO genre. The transition is expected to be seamless for players, with all progress and items remaining intact. This move follows the struggles of other Amazon-published MMOs like New World and Blue Protocol.
Amazon gives up on MMOs, hands Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to the original devs instead of shutting them down like…
Amazon Game Studios is stepping away from live operations for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, handing control back to their original developers, Smilegate and FirstSpark Games/NC, respectively. This transition is set to occur in early 2027 for Lost Ark and Q4 2026 for Throne and Liberty, aiming for a smooth handover with minimal disruption to players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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.
