Amazon drops Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty

Amazon Ends Its MMO Era: The Great Handover of Gaming Giants

The age of Amazon as a major publisher of massive multiplayer online games is drawing to a close. The company has made the difficult decision to end its publishing deals for two beloved titles, Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark. While the games themselves will continue their existence, the landscape of ownership is shifting as these titles transition hands.

For players, this news means a few specific handovers are coming down the pipeline. For Throne and Liberty, the responsibility for Western markets will shift to NC near the end of 2026. Details on this changeover are still being finalized, but the transition is underway.

The situation with Lost Ark follows a similar trajectory. Smilegate will take over the publishing rights in early 2027. Crucially, there are some details about player data that will not make the jump. This means certain user information—including in-game mail, friends list memos, group member nicknames, and chat messages—will not transfer during the process.

Despite these administrative changes, the games themselves remain robust. They will continue to receive regular content updates leading up to the handover periods, ensuring that the gameplay experience remains vibrant for everyone.

The move signals a significant pivot for Amazon. Ending publishing deals for these major titles marks the final nail in the coffin for Amazon’s once-lofty gaming ambitions of the MMO genre. This decision comes amidst a broader organizational shift, where Amazon has begun focusing heavily on its cloud gaming platform, LUNA, and a strategic retreat from massive first-party game development.

This refocus aligns with Amazon’s recent organizational changes, including a significant round of layoffs in March. For fans of Lost Ark, this outcome is arguably welcome news, especially given that the team responsible for the title had recently faced staff reductions.

While the focus shifts to cloud gaming and new ventures like Courtroom Chaos Starring Snoop Dogg, developers are still pouring effort into delivering content. The future of these MMOs depends on successful transitions, but the real game is still being played as players navigate this exciting era of change.