In a recent update, NCSoft has offered gamers a closer look at their upcoming title, Throne and Liberty. This preview includes two new music videos from the official soundtrack and an introductory gameplay video, providing insights into one of the game’s character classes.

The gameplay video, presented in Korean, is accessible to a broad audience thanks to YouTube’s auto-translation feature. It serves as a basic guide for MMO enthusiasts, highlighting essential game elements like map navigation, codices critical for character progression, and various in-game features. Viewers are introduced to gameplay mechanics, including quest acquisition, leveling strategies, and encounters with various in-game creatures.

Further enriching the game’s immersive experience, NCSoft has released two new tracks on their NCSound channel. The first track, titled “Liberty Theme,” is a powerful anthem for the game, featuring a blend of captivating cutscenes and aerial shots. This composition by Benjamin Wallfisch showcases vocalist Eurielle and an orchestra, combining to create a dramatic and adventurous tone. The video also teases the game’s unique feature of character transformation into animals.

The second piece, “Throne Theme,” follows a similar format, blending in-game footage with cutscenes to create an epic soundscape. Both the “Liberty Theme” and “Throne Theme” have been crafted by the same talented team, hinting at the grand scale of conflicts and battles in the game.

After receiving mixed reviews during its Korean closed beta test, Amazon Games and NCSOFT are gearing up to host a Technical Test for “Throne & Liberty“, a game set in the vast world of Solisium. The test will be invite-only, targeting the regions supported by Amazon Games across various platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The closed beta testing of “Throne & Liberty” in Korea garnered mostly negative feedback, with players criticizing the game’s lackluster tab-targeting combat system and its auto-play feature. Despite this, Amazon Games has released an announcement trailer on YouTube and are moving forward with the technical test in hopes of gaining a more varied response from the Western audience.

In “Throne & Liberty”, players traverse the expansive realm of Solisium in search of the fragments of the Star of Sylaveth, a symbol of absolute power. The ultimate aim is to defeat Kazar, the Wraith of Conquest, using strategic gameplay in a seamless in-game experience. Guild dynamics are at the forefront of the game, with players being able to choose how they want to tackle Kazar’s armies and rival guilds.

The Technical Test offers players an opportunity to explore a world filled with depth and verticality, from rolling fields to open skies and towering mountains. The game features large-scale bosses, field events, expansive dungeons, epic guild battles for territory and loot, and castle sieges, promising an immersive gameplay experience.

With this technical test, Amazon Games and NCSOFT aim to receive player feedback to improve “Throne & Liberty” and to assess the game’s network infrastructure. The dates for the Technical Test will be announced soon.

To participate in the Technical Test, interested players can sign up on the game’s official website.

The once much-anticipated Massively Multiplayer Online game, Throne & Liberty, is facing significant setbacks following its recent Korean closed beta. Critics noted an underwhelming combat system and numerous auto-play features as major areas of concern, causing a ripple effect that might lead to the game’s delay, according to South Korean portal Sedaily.

Originally slated for a release in the third quarter of 2023, Throne & Liberty is now reportedly postponed to the fourth quarter, which means the game might not be launched until October at the earliest.

While NCSOFT, the game’s developer, has yet to confirm this delay, credible sources suggest that the decision could impact the company’s financial standing. Hana Securities, a prominent regulator in South Korea, is said to have lowered the target price of NCSOFT due to the anticipated delay.

The concerns go beyond release schedules and share prices. The game is reportedly plagued with design flaws that could hamper its monetization and potentially alienate solvent players. Analyst Yeji Yoon commented on the matter, stating, “In consideration of TL’s feedback on domestic CBT and CBT’s global progress, we have changed our expected release date from the end of the third quarter to the fourth quarter.”

Based on the closed beta, analysts noted that Throne & Liberty’s business model has significantly changed, with a lower charging rate compared to current Lineage games. Despite this, the auto-hunting feature, typically associated with mobile games, remains in the gameplay.

The analysts believe that enhancements to the main quest, special dungeons, and guild raid content could possibly remedy the game’s shortcomings, speculating that such improvements might attract a larger user base than existing Lineage games, despite the drawbacks highlighted in the beta version.

Whether or not the delay will happen remains to be seen, but do seem likely based on the feedback the game has gotten from the community so far. For now we will wait for an official announcement from NCSoft.

After twelve years of development, NCSOFT’s highly-anticipated MMO Throne & Liberty is preparing for its Korean release, but early feedback suggests a rocky journey ahead for its impending Western launch.

Initially conceived as a sequel to Lineage, Throne & Liberty evolved into its own IP during the lengthy development process. Speculation is rife that the game will make its Western debut in October, but if early reactions from the game’s final round of closed beta testing are anything to go by, NCSOFT may have a challenge on its hands.

Many Western gamers who got their hands on the Korean beta have expressed profound disappointment. Billed as a potential “Black Desert Online killer,” Throne & Liberty has let down expectations by swapping the promised action combat for a static tab targeting system.

To make matters worse, the combat animations are perceived as mediocre, and the inability to move during combat further contributes to the sense of a dated combat experience.

But it’s not just the combat system that’s drawing criticism. A key feature of the game, Astral Hunting, allows players to grind mobs automatically, a practice known as Autoplay, which is familiar to Eastern and mobile gamers, but less appreciated in the Western PC market. Coupled with a grindy playstyle, this system has left some players feeling as if they are playing a mobile game ported to PC, rather than a dedicated PC MMO.

The fact that premium season pass holders can continue grinding while offline has only added fuel to this fire.

In addition, the game’s user interface (UI) has come under heavy scrutiny for its lackluster design. Similarly, the rewards system, where quest rewards are obtained by simply clicking a button on the UI, is seen as another concession to mobile gaming sensibilities.

Further concerns are raised around the game’s premium marketplace, which operates using a real-world cash currency, raising potential pay-to-win issues. Whether this mechanic will carry over into the Western release remains to be seen.

Graphically, Throne & Liberty is disappointing. Despite promising trailers, in practice, the game’s visuals don’t measure up to its main competitor, Black Desert Online, despite the latter being eight years older. Reports suggest the game is poorly optimized, forcing players to run it on low settings, even on powerful PCs.

YouTubers and streamers alike have been vocal in their criticism. Jay Evenly branded the game “Truly Awful” after sampling the beta, while Neeko2lo donned a clown costume to mock the game’s developers and awarded Throne & Liberty a score of 0/10 while calling it the “worst game he had ever played”. Popular streamer Asmongold also took a look at the game during a stream which ended in him laughing hysterically of how bad it looked.

Despite the backlash, Throne & Liberty has found some supporters, notably among old-school Lineage fans who enjoy grinding and aren’t averse to autoplay features. However, the game faces the danger of following in the footsteps of Elyon and Bless Unleashed, both Eastern MMOs that struggled to establish a Western player base and faded within months of their release.

As the Western release of Throne & Liberty looms, the apparent shortcomings have served as a stark reminder of the existing merits within the MMO landscape. Many players are highlighting the enduring appeal of Black Desert Online, a game that continues to stand as an excellent example of the genre, boasting the best action combat on the market. Amid the controversy stirred by Throne & Liberty, a notable number of gamers have voiced their intention to return to the tried and true experience offered by Black Desert Online.

In a recent update, the official Throne & Liberty website has shared a YouTube video featuring screenshots from their upcoming MMORPG. The video, compiled from recent game tests, offers fans a glimpse into the highly detailed and immersive world of Throne & Liberty.

The in-game images exhibit vast landscapes, meticulously crafted buildings, and characters, hinting at the variety of exploration and adventure opportunities in the game. The advanced quality of graphics and detail in these screenshots suggests significant progress in the game’s development.

Throne and Liberty, the highly anticipated PC MMORPG from NC, is one step closer to its official release with the announcement of its beta testing phase. The developers released a video update on the game’s progress, stating that they wanted to see the game in a new light and were eager to hear feedback from a wide audience.

According to the video, NC has a history of overcoming meaningful challenges with their previous releases and achieving significant success. With this in mind, the developers are working hard to make Throne and Liberty just as captivating as their previous games.

However, there are still concerns regarding whether everything will go as planned and if the game will work out the way they want. This is why NC is inviting players to participate in the next beta testing phase, which will run from May 24th to May 30th.

During the February Feedback and Gameplay Test, NC received invaluable feedback from players, some of which they agreed with, and some they didn’t. This feedback helped the developers improve the game and make it more enjoyable for players.

In the video, the developers emphasized that playing with others is what makes TL even more fun, and they want to invite a lot of players to show how much fun it can be when played together. They believe that their players are the final piece to making TL as fun as possible, which is why they’re inviting players to register for the beta test starting on May 2nd.

It’s important to note that the beta test in May will only be available to players residing in South Korea. NC is encouraging players to apply and not miss out on the chance to invite friends and participate in various events.

NCSoft has announced that its upcoming MMORPG ‘Throne and Liberty‘ will be launched globally in October in collaboration with Amazon Games. However, before the official launch, the companies plan to conduct closed beta tests (CBT) in South Korea and North America at the end of May.

The original launch schedule for the game was set for May, but it was delayed to accommodate synergies with Amazon, competition from games like ‘Diablo 4’, and other factors. In addition, NCSoft has been reinforcing its team since Hong Jihee was appointed as the new business leader for ‘Throne and Liberty’.

On April 19th, the development and business organizations of NCSoft’s ‘Throne and Liberty’ held a kickoff meeting with Amazon Games distribution business officials to launch the collaboration in earnest.

‘Throne and Liberty’ is a next-generation MMORPG developed for the PC platform, marking NCSoft’s first PC MMORPG release in 12 years since ‘Blade & Soul’. The game’s development began in 2013 as the successor to ‘Lineage Eternal’, and the project’s name was changed to ‘TL’, reflecting the strong connection to the ‘Lineage’ series.

Although ‘Lineage 3’ was considered as a potential name for the game, it was ultimately decided to be a new IP named ‘Throne and Liberty’, independent of the ‘Lineage’ IP. This decision was influenced by internal dynamics within NCSoft and market conditions.

Despite the delay in the release schedule, concerns have been raised about the potential for ‘Throne and Liberty’ to incorporate a “Lineage-like” monetization model. NCSoft’s public relations team stated that the specific schedule for ‘Throne and Liberty’ will be confirmed during the first quarter earnings announcement and that they are continuing to collaborate with Amazon Games for a global launch.

Amazon Games has reached a deal with South Korean game developer NCSOFT to publish their highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) THRONE AND LIBERTY in North America, South America, Europe, and Japan. The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with support for cross-platform play.

THRONE AND LIBERTY is a story-driven adventure game that features action combat and vast, constantly changing geographical and environmental features. Players can transform into animals and trigger powerful environmental effects such as solar eclipses and rainstorms to gain an edge in massive-scale player vs. player and player vs. environment combat.

The game marks the latest chapter for Amazon Games’ rapidly growing publishing business. The company has already tasted success with its internally developed MMO New World and action RPG Lost Ark from Smilegate RPG, both of which have topped Steam and Twitch charts and continue to nurture strong player communities.

Christoph Hartmann, VP at Amazon Games, said that delivering games of the highest quality from the world’s most talented developers is one of the cornerstones of their business, and that the last year has taught them a great deal about publishing and managing a successful live-service game on a global scale. He added that Amazon Games is ready to bring THRONE AND LIBERTY players an incredible experience at launch.

Meanwhile, Moonyoung Choi, principal development management officer at NCSOFT, said that Amazon Games is one of the most reliable partners for publishing massive live-service games globally, with proven expertise in operations, localization, marketing, and community support. Choi expressed confidence that Amazon Games is the right publisher to bring THRONE AND LIBERTY’s inimitable value and dynamic, immersive MMO experience to players around the world.

The deal with NCSOFT follows Amazon Games’ previously announced publishing agreements with Bandai Namco Online for Blue Protocol, Crystal Dynamics for the next major Tomb Raider game, and Glowmade and Disruptive Games for unannounced titles.

NCsoft, the developers behind the highly-anticipated MMORPG Throne and Liberty (TL), have announced that they will be holding a final testing phase for the game on February 21st and 22nd. The testing will take place at their R&D center in Pangyo, and users interested in participating can apply through the official TL website until February 12th.

Participants in the final testing phase will have the opportunity to experience a variety of content, including tutorials, the game’s story and world through the “Codex Play” feature, regional events, and the raid system. The testing will last for approximately five hours.

According to NCsoft’s PDMO, Moon Young Kim, the final testing phase is being held to validate the gameplay and answer any questions that users may have before the game’s release. He also stated that the team will be using feedback from the test to improve the game’s overall completion and that they plan to launch TL globally in the first half of this year.

Let’s get the release date out of the way first! The Throne and Liberty MMORPG is coming out in the last quarter of 2022.

MMO announcements without a release date – even a vague one – are the worst. NCSoft, the company behind Throne and Liberty, led us on for years. They announced the game in 2011 as Lineage Eternal, a sequel to the original 1998 Lineage. Six years later, NCSoft hit Lineage Eternal with the reboot hammer. The name changed to Project TL.

Details, if you can call them that, arrived in 2019 in the form of artwork. The few pictures featured iconic Lineage locations, a clear sign that Project TL still has a bond with Lineage.

Three long years of silence followed. Now, in 2022, NCSoft is finally ready to spill the beans on Project TL. A rather lengthy developer interview shed more light on the upcoming games. Throne and Liberty has a sibling and its name is Project E.

Throne and Liberty – The Big Reveal

Throne and Liberty is a new NCSoft IP (intellectual property). The reboot process made it less Lineage-y and more into a standalone title. As a result, the name changed from Lineage Eternal to Throne and Liberty. The denomination is in line with the new story.

Gameplay-wise, a lot has changed. The developers felt that the 2011 design would no longer appeal to today’s gamers. So, they took the initial game under revision. Where possible, systems were updated. Others were completely removed.

The team created new features. World-building and exciting gameplay is at the forefront of the design process. We all know that linear play and repetitive activities are the ugly dark heart of the MMO blueprint. Throne and Liberty aim to shake things up.

We’ve seen our fair share of MMORPG announcements that all say that. Thankfully, Producer Jong-ok Ahn was kind enough to exemplify a situation.

Let’s say that you are out in the open world killing mobs. The weather changes. Barely an inconvenience, you would say. In T&L, the meteorological conditions are more than just pretty pixels. The wind direction and force influence the speed and route of your arrows. On a sunny day, lighting magic spells hit one enemy. When it rains, the spell becomes an AOE attack.

Weather also works against you. Water can inundate the underground sewer of a castle shutting your way in during a siege battle. Of course, other options will be available. You won’t have to postpone the raid because of bad weather. If the weather doesn’t work in your favor, you can change it. Players have the power to cause solar eclipses and rainstorms. That’s an intriguing feature.

To prevent us from getting bored of defeating the same enemies over and over again, new monsters will join the fray. The dynamic environment should create more opportunities for immersive and exciting adventures.

According to Jong-ok Ah, two main ideas guided the team when creating the content. To know Throne and Liberty is to love Throne and Liberty. Story-telling and world-building play a special part.

Throne and Liberty utilizes console and adventure mechanics to create a living game world and a connection between the players and NPCs. The second idea is all about teamwork. Players will need to work together to defeat challenging bosses.

It seems that Throne and Liberty has many boss fights that require a party. It’s not clear if the game is PvE-centric. By the looks of it, the priority is teamwork first, competition second.

However, Throne and Liberty don’t have a specific target audience. It caters to all group ages and players all over the world. We hope this means that the PvP fans won’t be forgotten.

Judging by the artwork and video, the world of Throne and Liberty looks amazing. And it’s not just for show and monster hunting.

Exploration and traveling play a big part, specifically in how we get from one place to another. The developers came up with an interesting solution. Characters can transform into land, water, and air creatures. You don’t need a mount, you become the mount. In animal form, you will be able to carry other players.

The interview didn’t tell much about the gameplay, but we can discern a few things from the three-minute trailer. Throne and Liberty is an action MMORPG.

The video presents several combat styles. We have a melee warrior equipped with a one-hand weapon and shield. He has the ability to pull mobs close to him. Another melee character wields a two-handed sword hitting multiple mobs at once.

We also see a spell-shooting mage armed with a staff. A hybrid melee/ranged fighting style allows the character to shoot arrows from a bow and a sword when the mob closes in. Another character can escalate mountains using a grappling hook. The weapons are connected to the story.

The trailer also shows boss battles where lots of players join forces to take down colossal enemies. These fights look epic. We see a scene where several players mount a stone giant. From what we gather, it has something to do with the castle sieges.  

What Is Project E

Project E came to life from the hundreds of ideas bounced around when creating Throne and Liberty. Not all of them could be in the game, but they were just too good to be left aside.

So, the team created another MMORPG. Project E shares the world with Throne and Liberty. One planet, two playgrounds. The Western medieval fantasy Throne and Liberty takes place on the continent of Solisium.

The Eastern-themed adventures of Project E unfold on the continent of Laisak. Project E pursues the exoticism of the East. The E in the title stands for East. The video shows heavy Korean influences, but the plan is to include Eastern influences from more countries.

The same laws of physics, ecology, and fantasy of the planet Novcrea govern both continents. However, each civilization followed its own development path. These differences make each world distinct.

The background story starts with the Old Gods war. The Star of Silaves was a magic stone prison to contain the eponymous god. The plan failed and the stone broke into pieces that fell on Novcrea. The scavenger run for pieces turned into a great war on Solisium.

Pieces of Sillack – that’s what we call the stone prison in Project E – landed on Laisak creating four islands, a lake, and holy flora and fauna.

This land is not free of conflicts either. Humans learned the secrets of magic from elves and then declared war on them. The orcs lead a war to unify their tribes. Some races sought refuge in other areas.

On the continent of Laisak, elves call themselves Nirva. Yaksha is the term for orcs. The Project E cinematic trailer doesn’t include gameplay.

Throne and Liberty and Project E will be available on PC and consoles, including next-generation machines. As for the business model, the team is still figuring out what will work best.