Amazon Game Studios is returning Western publishing duties for the massively multiplayer online game Throne and Liberty to its original developer, NC, marking a major retreat from the company’s multi-year push into the multiplayer online game market, according to Variety and Gaming.net.
Throne and Liberty Publishing Handover to NC
The publishing handover is slated to complete in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to official company announcements cited by Gaming.net. Under the terms of the transition, NC will operate the free-to-play MMO directly through its subsidiary, FirstSpark Games. The move effectively undoes the agreement signed on February 22, 2023, which initially placed the game’s North American, South American, European, and Japanese publishing operations under Amazon Games across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms.
“As the creator of Throne and Liberty, we believe this is the right time to take a more direct role in supporting the game and helping shape its future,” NC stated in a public notification reported by Gaming.net. Amazon Game Studios echoed that perspective, describing the shift as returning the title back to its creators.
What Transfers During the Migration
Player accounts, characters, game progress, inventories, and platform access will transfer automatically to NC without requiring game reinstalls, according to Amazon’s detailed FAQ documents cited by Gaming.net. Users on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox will retain their existing data and simply accept new NC Terms of Service upon their first login following the transition. Cross-play will remain intact across platforms, while cross-progression will function between Steam and NC’s native PC platform, PURPLE.
In-game currencies including Lucent, Loyalty Points, Sollant, and Ornate Coins will retain their values, though NC noted that usage and expiration policies could shift. Account enforcement histories like bans will also carry over. However, players who choose to opt out of the new terms of service before the migration date will have their Amazon-held data processed according to standard data retention and deletion policies, resulting in lost characters and progress.
Did you know? While most game data transfers seamlessly, guild structures face strict automation rules during the migration. If a guild leader opts out of the data transfer, leadership automatically passes to another member, and guilds left with zero members are permanently disbanded.
Amazon’s Strategic Pivot Away from MMOs
The transition of Throne and Liberty follows Amazon’s parallel decisions to hand Lost Ark back to developer Smilegate and to shutter New World entirely, signaling an end to the tech giant’s large-scale publishing efforts in the MMORPG sector, according to Variety. The games division previously absorbed significant structural cuts, including the elimination of 14,000 corporate employees across the broader company last October.
Amazon Game Studios is shifting its internal focus toward single-player AAA titles, such as the upcoming Tomb Raider projects, and expanding its cloud gaming service Luna, as reported by Variety. The company’s remaining live-service portfolio has wound down significantly following the earlier cancellation of King of Meat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reinstall Throne and Liberty after the transition?
No, players on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox will not need to reinstall the game, according to Amazon’s FAQ. Players only need to accept the new NC Terms of Service upon logging in after the migration.
What happens to my in-game currency and items?
Currencies like Lucent, Loyalty Points, Sollant, and Ornate Coins will maintain their quantities and values through the transition, though NC has noted that usage policies may change.
Can I opt out of the data transfer?
Yes, players can choose to opt out before the transition date, but doing so means your character, progress, inventory, and account data will not transfer and will be deleted under Amazon’s data retention policies.
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