Amazon Games exits Western publishing for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty

Amazon Games is withdrawing from Western live-service operations for two major MMORPG titles, Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark. The company is transitioning publishing responsibilities back to the original developers.

Throne and Liberty will see its Western operations transferred to NC and FirstSpark Games starting in the fourth quarter of 2026. Players are expected to retain their characters, progress, and assets during this transition.

Lost Ark will follow in early 2027, when Smilegate assumes full control of Western publishing, customer support, and in-game stores. While most player data, including Steam accounts and wallet balances, will migrate automatically, some social features such as chat history, friend lists, and in-game mail may not be preserved.

This move is part of a broader strategic retreat by Amazon from the large-scale MMORPG market, following the reduced support for New World and the cancellation of other major projects.