Amazon Ditches MMOs, Hands Over Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty to Developers
Amazon Game Studios has taken its final step in distancing itself from MMOs after transferring its two existing titles, Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty, back to their respective developers. The move marks a significant shift for Amazon's gaming division, which had previously invested heavily in the MMO genre.
Lost Ark was released on PC in 2022, while Throne and Liberty launched on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2024 under Amazon Games' publishing banner. The company has now informed players of both games that it will be ending its live service operations, with Smilegate taking over Lost Ark's development and FirstSpark Games and NC Games handling Throne & Liberty.
The handover transition is expected to take place in Q4 for Throne and Liberty, while Lost Ark's transfer to Smilegate is set to occur by early 2027. Both statements from Amazon Game Studios emphasize that this change will allow the developers' passion for their respective games to continue, ensuring the community can keep experiencing the worlds of Solisium and Arkesia.
This decision marks the culmination of Amazon's move away from MMOs, which began last year with significant layoffs at its Orange County studio. The company had previously announced that New World would no longer receive updates but would continue to operate until January 31, 2027. With the cancellation of several AAA game development projects and now this transfer of its existing MMO titles, Amazon will no longer have any active MMOs.