Amazon hands over Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty management to developers amid wider MMO pullback.
Today’s PC gaming news highlights a potentially significant shift in the MMO market, as Amazon Game Studios continues its retreat from direct game management. According to RockPaperShotgun, Amazon is transferring control of their Western servers for Lost Ark to its developer, Smilegate, and for Throne and Liberty to its developer, FireSpark. This move marks another step in Amazon’s gradual exit from the MMO space, following the winding down of development on New World and cancellation of their Lord of the Rings MMO project.
The transition might be rocky for players. Some disruption and data loss could occur as these titles shift control. This isn’t entirely surprising, given the complexities involved in such a handover and the scale at which these games operate. Amazon had seen more success as a publisher rather than a developer in-house, but their gradual withdrawal raises questions about the future of these games and the players relying on stable and consistent support.
Subnautica 2 Introduces Public Beta Testing
Meanwhile, in the realm of survival games, Subnautica 2 has introduced a beta update branch on Steam. Players can opt into this branch to test patches before they are rolled out to the main game. However, as reported by RockPaperShotgun, players who explore this option should be aware that savegames won’t be compatible with the main game branch. This decision reflects a common practice among developers aiming to gather user feedback and ensure updates are stable, but it requires players to navigate the temporary split in their game progress carefully.
Additional Developments in VR and Linux Gaming
On the VR front, concerns over the industry’s direction have been highlighted by RockPaperShotgun’s analysis which noted declining headset shipments and studio closures. Valve’s new hardware, “Steam Frame”, aims to invigorate the market but needs to offer more than just technical innovation to truly make an impact. Meanwhile, for Linux gamers, GamingOnLinux reports that the Linux GPU Configuration And Monitoring Tool (LACT) adds new overclocking options for NVIDIA GPUs, a notable enhancement for enthusiasts seeking extra performance.
These stories collectively point towards ongoing shifts and challenges in the gaming landscape, from company strategies and technological innovation to community-driven testing processes. All of these elements shape the player experience in different ways, whether through potential disruptions due to corporate decisions, the excitement of beta testing, or the hardware developments driving future gaming possibilities.
