Amazon Ditches MMOs

Amazon Game Studios is ending its support for the Western game servers of Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, with Smilegate and NC taking over publishing duties in early 2027 and Q4 2026, respectively. The transition will allow players to retain their progression and account data, but some features like in-game mail and chat history will be lost.

The handover of Lost Ark's Western servers to Smilegate will occur in early 2027, with the exact date not yet specified. Smilegate, the original developer of Lost Ark, will take control of the Western servers, adding to its existing control of other global servers. Western social media accounts and the official website will no longer be operated by Amazon.

In addition to Lost Ark, Amazon Game Studios will also end its support for Throne and Liberty, with NC taking over publishing duties in Q4 2026. Players of both games will retain their character progression, unlocks, and save data, but some features will be lost in the transition. For Lost Ark, this includes in-game mail, friends lists, and chat history.

Active subscriptions for Lost Ark will be canceled prior to the transition, and players are advised not to purchase new long-term subscriptions. Existing balances will carry over, and players can opt out of having their data transferred to the new publisher.

The transition is part of Amazon's pivot away from massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). Amazon Game Studios will focus on high-priority planned AAA titles, such as the upcoming Tomb Raider games, and expanding Amazon's cloud gaming service Luna.

## What happens next The handover of both games will likely result in some downtime, but players can expect the games to continue operating in the West. Smilegate and NC will handle live-service operations and customer support for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, respectively.

## Why it matters Amazon Game Studios' decision to end its support for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty marks a significant shift in its gaming strategy. The company had positioned itself as a major player in the MMO market, but has since begun to divest from its gaming efforts. The transition of these games to their original developers will allow players to continue playing, but may also lead to changes in the games' operations and support.