NC is ending its global publishing agreement with Amazon Games for Throne and Liberty on February 1, 2027. The South Korean developer’s subsidiary, FirstSpark Games, will assume direct service operations across North America, South America, Europe, and Japan, under a publishing contract valued at $70 million.
The free-to-play MMORPG Throne and Liberty’s global publishing service is heading back to its creator. NC, formerly known as NCSoft, announced plans to unify the game’s global audience under a single online service managed directly by its subsidiary, FirstSpark Games, with the migration targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The transition unwinds an agreement originally signed on February 22, 2023, which gave Amazon Games the rights to publish the MMO across North America, South America, Europe, and Japan on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. While the initial contract spanned five years from the commercial launch, both companies agreed to move up the end date. The global version officially debuted in October 2024.
Financial Disclosures and Contract Terms
The early termination unveiled financial details that had remained under wraps since the initial signing. According to a regulatory filing released by NC, the global publishing contract carries a total value of $70 million, which translates to approximately ₩90.706 billion based on the exchange rate at the time of the initial deal.
The sum represents 3.93% of NC’s 2021 consolidated revenue of ₩2.3088 trillion. When the partnership was first announced in 2023, the only public disclosure was a lower bound of at least 2.5% of that consolidated revenue, prompting market estimates to hover around ₩57.7 billion. NC confirmed that it has received the full contract amount through signing bonuses and advance payments paid in scheduled installments.
The contract period officially runs from January 31, 2023, to February 1, 2027, with the final termination date tied directly to the completion of the service transfer. If the technical migration finishes ahead of schedule, the publishing agreement will conclude immediately.
What Transfers and What Stays the Same
For players, the operational handover involves specific structural shifts alongside continuity for existing accounts. Publisher duties, customer support, live operations, and terms of service all move from Amazon to NC. However, character information, gameplay progress, inventory items, and platform access remain entirely intact.
![[Industry news] THRONE AND LIBERTY TO TRANSITION FROM AMAZON GAME STUDIOS TO NC BY END OF Q4 2026](https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/vbcb.jpg "Photo: mcvuk.com")
Users on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox will not need to reinstall the game or create new accounts. Logging in after the transition simply requires accepting NC’s new terms of service. In-game currency balances, including Lucent, Loyalty Points, Sollant, and Ornate Coins, carry over directly, though terms of use and expiration policies may evolve under the new management.
To accommodate its proprietary infrastructure, NC is adding its PURPLE distribution layer to the mix. Players across PURPLE, Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation will share a single unified environment with cross-play intact. Cross-progression will function between Steam and PURPLE, but not across other platform pairings. Players who object to the data migration are given the option to opt out before the transition day, which deletes their characters and progression from the transferred service.
Industry Context and Leadership Perspectives
Amazon’s broader gaming portfolio has faced contraction following portfolio cutbacks and title cancellations.
Executives from both companies framed the transition as a natural evolution for the title, which reached over three million players during its first week on the market.
“For years, Throne and Liberty has been shaped by an incredible community under Amazon Game Studios. As the creators of Throne and Liberty, we believe this is the right time to take a more direct role in supporting the game and helping shape its future. We have always believed in this world, and we remain deeply committed to its long-term success.”
NC, Corporate Statement
FirstSpark Games leadership echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the operational shift toward self-publishing for their flagship property.
“Amazon Game Studios has been an excellent partner, and we’re grateful to have launched and maintained our MMO thus far with their team. Taking a more direct role in global publishing makes so much sense for us, and so we’re thrilled to lead the next chapter of Throne and Liberty directly as NC.”
Moonyoung Choi, FirstSpark Games CEO
Next Steps in the Migration Timeline
Technical teams from both NC and Amazon are collaborating to finalize the migration ahead of the Q4 2026 completion target. While regular bug fixes and minor updates continue, major updates such as the in-development Nix update may be held until the data transfer concludes to protect player progression.
Players are advised to monitor NC’s Service Transition Portal and Amazon’s updated regional FAQ pages for specific dates, final instructions on handling open auction house listings, and guidance on unclaimed store purchases as the transition date approaches.
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