Amazon Game Studios is stepping back from the massive multiplayer online genre by returning control of two major titles to their original creators. This strategic shift ends the publisher's direct involvement in live operations for Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty in Western markets. Players who rely on these games will see a change in who manages server updates, customer support, and future content roadmaps. The move signals a broader retreat from high-cost, long-term MMO development within the company.
Amazon Game Studios ends its MMO presence by returning control of Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty to their original creators
The transition involves handing over operational duties for Throne & Liberty to FirstSpark Games and NC in the fourth quarter of 2026. Lost Ark will follow a similar path, with Smilegate taking over live operations in early 2027. Amazon Game Studios confirmed these changes through official social media channels, stating they are providing updates on the future of both titles in the West. The original developers will resume responsibility for the games they initially built and launched.
This operational handover marks Amazon's complete exit from the MMO genre following a series of cancellations and halts in development. The company stopped significant first-party AAA MMO development in October 2025. Prior to this decision, Amazon had already canceled updates for New World and scrapped its Lord of the Rings MMO project. These previous cuts cleared the way for the current strategy of returning existing titles to their founding studios rather than continuing internal management.
The shift allows the original creators to steer the long-term direction of their respective worlds without Amazon's corporate oversight. FirstSpark Games and NC will manage the Western release of Throne & Liberty starting next year. Smilegate will take the reins for Lost Ark in the first half of 2027. This structure returns the games to the teams that established their core mechanics and community expectations before Amazon's involvement.
Source: VideoGameChronicles
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