Amazon Exits Massively Multiplayer Online Game Market
Amazon is ceasing its operations for major MMO titles in the West, handing over live services for "Throne and Liberty" and "Lost Ark" to other companies. The move signals a complete withdrawal from the genre.
Amazon has fully exited the massively multiplayer online (MMO) game sector, transferring live operations for key titles in Western markets.
The company announced Wednesday it will hand over stewardship of "Throne and Liberty" and "Lost Ark" to new operators. FirstSpark Games and NC will assume control of "Throne and Liberty" in the fourth quarter of 2026. Smilegate will take over "Lost Ark" operations in early 2027.
This strategic shift follows Amazon's October announcement to significantly reduce its work on first-party AAA games, with a particular focus on MMOs. The company's earlier decision to halt a substantial portion of its internal MMO development projects has now culminated in this complete withdrawal from managing live game services in the West.
In January, developers for "New World: Aeternum," another MMO previously under Amazon's purview, indicated plans to cease offering new content updates. While "New World: Aeternum" was not explicitly mentioned in Wednesday's announcement regarding live operations handover, the broader context suggests a departure from the MMO genre across Amazon's portfolio.