In a significant shift in its gaming strategy, Amazon Game Studios has announced its complete withdrawal from the massively multiplayer online (MMO) genre. The company will hand back operational control of its two flagship MMO titles to their original developers: Throne and Liberty will return to NC Soft and its subsidiary FirstSpark Games in the fourth quarter of 2026, while Lost Ark will transition to Korean developer Smilegate in early 2027. This decision marks the end of Amazon’s ambitious foray into MMO publishing in Western markets, representing a major strategic pivot for one of the world’s largest technology companies.
The dual announcements signal Amazon’s retreat from what had been a cornerstone of its gaming ambitions. For several years, Amazon served as the Western publisher for both titles, handling crucial aspects including regional publishing, community management, customer support, localization, and ongoing content updates. The company invested substantial resources in adapting these Korean-developed games for North American and European audiences, building dedicated teams to manage the complex logistics of live-service game operations. Now, all of these responsibilities will return to the original Korean studios that created these games.
The Rise and Challenges of Amazon’s Gaming Division
Amazon’s journey into the gaming industry has been marked by both ambition and turbulence. The company entered the sector with significant financial backing and grand visions of competing with established gaming giants like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Amazon Game Studios was founded in 2014, and the company poured billions of dollars into developing original titles and securing publishing rights for promising games from other developers. However, the path has been rocky, with multiple high-profile project cancellations and delays plaguing the division.
The tech giant experienced notable setbacks before finding success. Projects including Crucible, a team-based shooter that was released and then pulled back into beta before being canceled entirely in 2020, highlighted the challenges Amazon faced in game development. The company’s most significant success came with New World, an original MMO developed internally that launched in 2021 to considerable initial success, though it later struggled to maintain its player base. The publishing partnerships for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty were seen as a way to leverage existing, proven content rather than developing everything from scratch.
Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty: A Publishing Experiment
Lost Ark, developed by South Korean studio Smilegate, launched in Western markets under Amazon’s publishing banner in February 2022. The action-oriented MMO achieved remarkable early success, breaking concurrent player records on Steam and attracting millions of players eager to experience the highly-anticipated title. At its peak, Lost Ark boasted over 1.3 million concurrent players on Steam alone, making it one of the most successful game launches in the platform’s history. Amazon’s role involved not just distribution but extensive localization efforts, ongoing server management, and adapting the game’s monetization systems for Western audiences.
Throne and Liberty, meanwhile, represented a newer venture. Developed by NC Soft through its FirstSpark Games subsidiary, this MMO launched more recently and represented Amazon’s continued commitment to the genre. The game featured ambitious cross-platform play capabilities and modernized MMO mechanics designed to attract both veteran players and newcomers to the genre. However, despite initial interest, maintaining player engagement in the increasingly competitive live-service gaming market proved challenging.
Industry Context and Future Implications
Amazon’s exit from MMO publishing reflects broader industry trends and challenges. The live-service gaming market has become increasingly saturated, with players having numerous options competing for their time and money. Operating MMOs requires substantial ongoing investment in server infrastructure, content development, customer support, and community management. These operational demands may have proven less attractive to Amazon as the company reassesses its gaming priorities. Industry analysts suggest that Amazon may be refocusing its gaming efforts on other areas, potentially including cloud gaming services through its Amazon Luna platform or its more successful original titles.
The transition periods for both games—late 2026 for Throne and Liberty and early 2027 for Lost Ark—provide substantial runway for players and the original developers to prepare for the handover. Both Smilegate and NC Soft have extensive experience operating their games in Asian markets, suggesting that Western players can expect continued support, though potentially with different approaches to community engagement and content updates than they experienced under Amazon’s management.
Expert Opinion: Amazon’s withdrawal from MMO publishing suggests a strategic recalibration rather than a complete gaming retreat. The company appears to be learning that success in gaming requires either full creative control through internal development or complete delegation to experienced operators—the middle ground of regional publishing proved unsustainable. This decision may ultimately benefit players if the original developers can provide more culturally consistent and responsive management of their own creations.
