**Smilegate Takes Over Lost Ark’s Western Servers from Amazon Game Studios**
In a significant development in the gaming world, Smilegate, the South Korean developer behind the popular MMO Lost Ark, will be taking control of the Western servers previously managed by Amazon Game Studios. This transition also extends to another title, Throne and Liberty, which will see FireSpark stepping in to oversee its servers. However, players should be prepared for potential disruptions and data loss during this shift.
Amazon Game Studios has historically invested heavily in in-house game development while also acting as a global publisher for several MMOs, including Lost Ark. Despite their efforts in creating original titles, such as New World, the company has found more success with external projects. As Amazon gradually steps back from the MMO sector—evidenced by the cessation of New World development and the scrapping of the in-development Lord of the Rings MMO—the future of these titles has become increasingly uncertain.
According to a blog post on Lost Ark’s official site, Amazon announced that “Starting in early 2027, Amazon Game Studios will end its live service operations of Lost Ark, with Smilegate taking over going forward.” Although a specific date for the transition hasn’t been set, players are advised to be aware of the changes on the horizon.
As part of the transition, most account data will be preserved; however, certain elements of player history will not carry over. Players can expect the loss of their chat message history, in-game mail, friends list memos, and group names. On the brighter side, critical aspects such as characters, progression, inventory, game data and entitlements, and wallet balances will remain intact.
Notably, subscriptions do not transfer to Smilegate. Amazon has indicated that “Active subscriptions will be cancelled before the transition with appropriate notice,” and they have already halted the sale of 12-month subscription options. Players are encouraged to refrain from purchasing new long-term subscriptions as the management of remaining prepaid time is being finalized with Smilegate.
The transition from Amazon to Smilegate may provide several advantages for players. One significant benefit is the prospect of simultaneous updates for Korean and global versions of Lost Ark. Historically, players in the West had to wait for new content, which lessened the excitement of tackling new raids or strategies. Smilegate noted, “Because the Western release cadence differed, raid strategies were often public by the time content arrived, which took much of the joy out of solving a raid for yourselves.”
However, this synchronization will be a gradual process. Smilegate emphasized the importance of not rushing this transition, stating, “If we tried to force the accumulated distance shut in one stroke, we believe it could put real strain on your progression and on the rhythm at which you enjoy new content.”
In addition to Lost Ark, Amazon will also hand over Throne and Liberty to FirstSpark Games by the end of the year. Preliminary announcements suggest that this transfer may result in less disruption and minimal data loss for players, a positive sign for fans of the title.
With numerous job cuts and game closures resulting from Amazon’s shifting focus within the gaming landscape, it is a relief to see well-established titles like Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty continue under the leadership of their original developers. These titles represent some of Amazon’s few successes in gaming, likely due to their operational distance from the corporation’s overarching strategies.
The efforts of groups such as Stop Killing Games highlight the growing movement toward preserving online games, ensuring that beloved titles do not simply disappear due to shifts in corporate priorities. As the gaming community continues to advocate for the maintenance and improvement of always-online games, the transition of Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty serves as a hopeful indicator that certain games can continue to thrive despite changing corporate landscapes.
