industry

Amazon ends publishing for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty; NC and Smilegate to take over

Amazon is ending its Western publishing agreements for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty. NC will assume Western publishing for Throne and Liberty near the end of 2026, and Smilegate will take back Lost Ark in early 2027. Both games will remain live and receive regular content updates during the handovers, but some Lost Ark user data will not transfer and Firespark warned major Throne and Liberty updates may be delayed until after the transition. The moves complete Amazon's retreat from big-budget MMO publishing following the 2025 pause of New World and related layoffs.

• NC will take over Western publishing for Throne and Liberty near the end of 2026; Smilegate will resume publishing Lost Ark in early 2027.
• Lost Ark player data that will not transfer includes in-game mail, friends list memos and group names, guild member nicknames and memos, and chat messages and history.
• Both games will continue to operate and receive regular content updates up to the handovers; Firespark cautioned that major updates to Throne and Liberty may be held back until after the transition.
• The decision marks the end of Amazon's recent MMO publishing efforts after it paused New World in 2025 and implemented staff cuts.