For the second time today, Amazon Game Studios is handing one of its published MMOs back to its developer, with NC announcing that Throne and Liberty will transition to the company’s own publishing service by the end of Q4 2026. The move comes hours after Amazon confirmed Lost Ark is returning to Smilegate in early 2027, though the Throne and Liberty handover is on a faster timeline, wrapping before the end of this year.
The transition looks simpler for players than the Lost Ark one, at least based on what NC has shared so far. All assets are preserved, including character information, gameplay progress, inventory items, and held Lucent, and existing players on PlayStation, XBOX, and Steam keep their accounts and current gameplay environment by simply accepting the new Terms of Service. Nothing else is required, and there’s no opt-out process mentioned. Once the transition completes, everyone plays together in a single unified environment alongside players on PURPLE, NC’s proprietary platform.
NC, formerly known as NCSOFT, is handling the work together with developer FirstSpark Games, one of its own studios, with both teams preparing the technical and operational side of unifying the global audience under one service. “Taking a more direct role in global publishing makes so much sense for us,” said FirstSpark Games CEO Moonyoung Choi, who called Amazon an excellent partner and said NC is thrilled to lead the game’s next chapter directly.
Throne and Liberty launched on October 1, 2024 for PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC, and NC describes it as one of Amazon Game Studios’ early successes, hitting record daily active user counts. That lines up with the game’s launch window performance, when it ranked among the PlayStation Store’s top free-to-play downloads and later landed on Steam’s Best of 2024 lists. The free-to-play MMO gives PvE players Challenge Raids, dungeons, and Dimensional Trials, while PvP players form alliances to rule together or betray their way to the top.
Between today’s two announcements and the shutdowns and sales earlier this year, Amazon Games’ live service portfolio is thinning out quickly, and its two biggest published MMOs will both be gone within about six months of each other. NC says more technical details for players are available on the game’s portal website, with the transition targeted to complete by the end of 2026.
