Amazon Transfers MMO Operations to NCSoft and Smilegate

Updated at: August 20, 2026 at 12:15 AM

On August 12, 2026, Amazon Game Studios announced a major strategic shift, officially withdrawing from the massively multiplayer online (MMO) game genre.

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This decision signals the end of Amazon's large-scale investment in MMOs, leading to the transfer of two major titles, Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, back to their original developers.

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For players, the transition means that while core progress like accounts and in-game items will remain safe, some non-essential data such as chat history and friends list notes will not transfer.

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Furthermore, Amazon's internally developed title, New World: Aeternum, is set to close its servers permanently on January 31, 2027.

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Moving forward, Amazon Game Studios is reallocating its internal resources to focus on single-player AAA titles, including the upcoming Tomb Raider projects, and the continued growth of its cloud gaming platform, Luna.

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This restructuring follows a period of organizational changes within the company, marking a new chapter for Amazon's gaming division.

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End of article

You read 6 focus sentences.

Challenge Mode

Comprehension Questions

When will Amazon officially stop operating Lost Ark?

Early 2027

Fourth quarter of 2026

January 31, 2027

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

Early 2027

What happens to player progress during the transition of Throne and Liberty?

Accounts and progress are expected to transfer automatically.

All data, including chat history, will be lost.

Players must manually migrate their accounts.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

Accounts and progress are expected to transfer automatically.

Which game is scheduled to shut down its servers on January 31, 2027?

Lost Ark

New World: Aeternum

Throne and Liberty

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

New World: Aeternum

What is the primary future focus for Amazon Game Studios?

AAA titles and the expansion of the Luna cloud gaming service.

Acquiring smaller game studios

Developing new MMO titles

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

AAA titles and the expansion of the Luna cloud gaming service.

Which type of user data will not be transferred during the migration?

Free-text content like chat history and guild member nicknames.

In-game inventory items

Player wallet balances

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

Free-text content like chat history and guild member nicknames.

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