Throne and Liberty
{{Short description|2023 video game}}
{{Use Singapore English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Throne and Liberty
| image = Project_TL_logo.png
| caption =
| developer = FirstSpark Games
| publisher = {{vgrelease|WW|NCSoft{{cite web|url=http://projecttl.plaync.com|title=Project TL Official Site|publisher=NCSOFT|access-date=March 29, 2018}}|NA/EU/JP|Amazon Games}}
| director =
| producer =
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer = Benjamin Wallfisch
| Music =
| series = Lineage
Novcrea Universe
| engine = Unreal Engine 4{{cite web|title=Lineage Eternal Engine Will Be Upgraded to Unreal Engine 4|url=http://2p.com/50503624_1/Lineage-Eternal-Will-be-Crafted-Using-Unreal-Engine-4-amp-Delayed-Notably-by-MMORPGmaster.htm|website=2P.com|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813053126/http://2p.com/50503624_1/Lineage-Eternal-Will-be-Crafted-Using-Unreal-Engine-4-amp-Delayed-Notably-by-MMORPGmaster.htm|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=dead}}
| platforms = Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
| released = {{Video game release|KR|December 7, 2023|AS/SEA|July 24, 2024|NA/EU/JP|October 1, 2024}}
| genre = MMORPG
| modes = Multiplayer
}}
Throne and Liberty is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by FirstSpark Games and published by NCSoft. It was published in North America, South America, Europe, and Japan by Amazon Games.
The game was originally part of the Lineage series and a sequel to the first Lineage, but was repurposed and restructured well into development. The game was first announced as Lineage Eternal in November 2011 but suffered numerous delays in its release schedule. The first South Korea closed beta took place in 2016. NCSoft renamed the game Project TL in 2017 and Throne and Liberty in 2022.
Development and release
The game has suffered from numerous delays during development.{{cite news|last1=Priestman|first1=Chris|title=NCSoft Has Started Beta Testing Lineage Eternal: Twilight Resistance At Last|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/08/06/ncsoft-has-started-beta-testing-lineage-eternal-twilight-resistance-at-last/|access-date=25 January 2016|work=Siliconera|date=6 August 2015}} NCSoft officially announced Lineage Eternal as the sequel to the first Lineage, released in 1998, in November 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/g-star-2011-ncsoft-announces-lineage-eternal/|title=G-Star 2011: NCsoft announces Lineage Eternal|last=Schuster|first=Shawn|work=Engadget|publisher=AOL|date=2011-11-08|access-date=2015-07-20}} The first gameplay videos debuted at the G-Star 2011 gaming convention in South Korea on November 9.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCdbdsFgNGI|title=Lineage Eternal G-star 2011 Official Video|work=YouTube|publisher=NCSoft Corporation|date=2011-11-09|access-date=2015-07-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111105535id_/http://wayback-fakeurl.archive.org/yt/sCdbdsFgNGI|archive-date=2011-11-11}} In August 2013, NCSoft was preparing to roll out the beta schedule of Lineage Eternal by the end of that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/08/15/ncsoft-looking-ahead-to-lineage-eternal-beta-wildstar-launch/|title=NCsoft looking ahead to Lineage Eternal beta, WildStar launch|last=Olivetti|first=Justin|work=Engadget|publisher=AOL|date=2013-08-15|access-date=2015-07-20}} The developers planned to initiate beta testing in Korea towards the end of year of 2015, but during a conference call in November, they confirmed that closed beta testing would be delayed until 2016.{{Cite web |date=4 November 2015 |title=Lineage Eternal - NCsoft delays Closed Beta phase until next year |url=http://mmoculture.com/2015/11/lineage-eternal-ncsoft-delays-closed-beta-phase-until-next-year/ |website=MMO Culture}} A closed beta in Korea was scheduled for November 2016.{{Cite web |last=Olivetti |first=Justin |date=2016-11-10 |title=Lineage Eternal schedules Korean closed beta for November 30 |url=https://massivelyop.com/2016/11/10/lineage-eternal-schedules-korean-closed-beta-for-november-30/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Massively Overpowered |language=en-US}}
By March 2017, the development team's leadership for Lineage Eternal was changed due to the results of the closed beta, according to NCSoft.{{Cite web |last=Royce |first=Bree |date=2017-05-11 |title=NCsoft Q1 2017: Tumbles for Lineage, Guild Wars 2, plus new leadership for Lineage Eternal |url=https://massivelyop.com/2017/05/11/ncsofts-q1-2017-financials-show-tumbles-for-lineage-guild-wars-2-plus-new-leadership-for-lineage-eternal/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Massively Overpowered |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Lineage Eternal Development Team Got a Big Change |url=http://2p.com/48357343_1/NCsoft-Replaced-the-Leadership-of-Lineage-Eternal-Development-Team-by-MMORPGmaster.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705234925/http://2p.com/48357343_1/NCsoft-Replaced-the-Leadership-of-Lineage-Eternal-Development-Team-by-MMORPGmaster.htm |archive-date=2017-07-05 |access-date=15 August 2011 |website=2P.com}} The game was delayed by August when NCSoft moved from a proprietary game engine that was used in Guild Wars to Unreal Engine 4.{{Cite web |last=Royce |first=Bree |date=2017-08-08 |title=Lineage Eternal delayed again, Guild Wars 2 mobile game teased |url=https://massivelyop.com/2017/08/08/lineage-eternal-delayed-again-guild-wars-2-mobile-game-teased/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Massively Overpowered |language=en-US}} By November, the game was called Project TL.{{Cite web |last=Royce |first=Bree |date=2017-11-07 |title=NCsoft has rebooted Lineage Eternal as Project TL in Unreal 4 |url=https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/07/ncsoft-has-rebooted-lineage-eternal-as-project-tl-in-unreal-4/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Massively Overpowered |language=en-US}}
By February 2022, Project TL was expected to launch in the second half of the year.{{Cite web |last=Marasigan |first=Marc |date=2022-02-15 |title=NCSoft Announces Five New Games Including Project TL And A Brand New Game |url=https://mmos.com/news/ncsoft-announces-five-new-games-including-project-tl-and-a-brand-new-game |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=MMOs.com |language=en-US}} The game was officially rebranded as Throne and Liberty the following month.{{Cite web |last=Marasigan |first=Marc |date=2022-03-18 |title=NCSoft Rebrands Project TL As A New IP Called Throne And Liberty |url=https://mmos.com/news/ncsoft-rebrands-project-tl-as-a-new-ip-called-throne-and-liberty |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=MMOs.com |language=en-US}}
Amazon acquired the publishing rights in 2023 and planned to release Throne and Liberty in Americas, Europe, and Japan, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S with full cross-platform support. An open beta started in July 2024, and was scheduled to be released on September 17.{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Kris |date=2024-06-19 |title=Amazon's Throne and Liberty MMO is coming to the west in September |url=https://www.engadget.com/amazons-throne-and-liberty-mmo-is-coming-to-the-west-in-september-123028015.html |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-22 |title=Amazon Games and NCSOFT announce agreement to publish 'THRONE AND LIBERTY' in the West and Japan |url=https://www.amazongames.com/en-us/news/articles/announce-agreement-throne-and-liberty |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Amazon Games |language=en-us}} The beta attracted nearly 60,000 players at launch and leveled off to around 38,000 by the next day.{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Lincoln |date=2024-07-19 |title=The open beta for Throne and Liberty, Amazon's latest MMO import, is available now |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/the-open-beta-for-throne-and-liberty-amazons-latest-mmo-import-is-available-now/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}
In July 2024, the Korean version of the game received the Leap Update, which added a multi-level challenge dungeon, new life skills, a boost server, and a skill system that lets players customize weapon abilities. The updates were carried over to the global version when it launched in September.{{Cite web |last=Neal |first=Chris |date=2024-07-21 |title=Throne & Liberty KR's upcoming new skill system update is reportedly headed for global release |url=https://massivelyop.com/2024/07/21/throne-and-liberty-krs-upcoming-new-skill-system-update-is-reportedly-headed-for-global-release/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Massively Overpowered |language=en-US}} NCSoft expanded service to 19 countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.{{Cite web |last=Lefebvre |first=Eliot |date=2024-07-24 |title=NCsoft expands Throne & Liberty publishing to several additional regions in Asia and beyond |url=https://massivelyop.com/2024/07/24/ncsoft-expands-throne-liberty-publishing-to-several-additional-regions-in-asia-and-beyond/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Massively Overpowered |language=en-US}}
After early access started on September 26, the game was released on October 1.{{Cite web |last=Royce |first=Bree |date=2024-08-16 |title=Amazon and NCsoft delay Throne and Liberty to October 1 for more progression retooling {{!}} Massively Overpowered |url=https://massivelyop.com/2024/08/16/amazon-and-ncsoft-delay-throne-and-liberty-to-october-1-for-more-progression-retooling/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |language=en-US}} Within its first week, the game attracted over 3 million players worldwide, with over 24 million hours of gameplay recorded.{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2024-10-08 |title=Amazon Hails Success of MMO Throne and Liberty After 3 Million Players in a Week |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/amazon-hails-success-of-mmo-throne-and-liberty-after-3-million-players-in-a-week |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=IGN |language=en}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PC) 73/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/throne-and-liberty/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Throne and Liberty (PC Critic Reviews) |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 1, 2024}}
}}
Throne and Liberty received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Earlier, Throne and Liberty experienced a strong launch, particularly on Steam, when it was released on October 1, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC. The game climbed to become the No. 4 most-played game on Steam, reaching a peak concurrent player count of over 300,000 within its first few days. This performance placed it ahead of major titles like PUBG: Battlegrounds and Grand Theft Auto V, and behind only Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2. Despite releasing midweek, the game was expected to see a further rise in player numbers over the weekend.{{Cite web |title=Throne and Liberty Is Already One of Steam's Most Popular Games Right After Release |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/throne-and-liberty-steam-player-charts/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Gaming |language=en}}
Throne and Liberty{{'}}s early success was attributed to its free-to-play model, its MMORPG elements that encourage guild-based gameplay, and its appeal to both PvP and PvE players. Set in the new world of Solisium, the game offers large-scale PvP battles, quests, and typical MMORPG features such as crafting and fishing. Its narrative-driven approach, emphasized by developers NCSOFT and publisher Amazon Games, helped distinguish it from other genre titles. Although its peak numbers have yet to match those of other Amazon-published MMORPGs like New World and Lost Ark, the early reviews positioned Throne and Liberty as one of the better games of the genre.
On February 14, 2025, just four months after the game's release in Japan and the West, Throne and Liberty servers were consolidated from 107 down to 25 due to sparse population density.{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Victoria |title=Throne & Liberty's Latest Update Starts Phase 2 of the Server Consolidation Process and Grants Buffs |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/throne-and-libertys-latest-update-starts-phase-2-of-the-server-consolidation-process-and-grants-buffs-2000134131 |website=MMORPG.com |access-date=14 February 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://tl.plaync.com/en-sg/index Official website] (in Singapore English)
- [https://tl.plaync.com/ko-kr/index Official website] (in South Korean standard language)
{{NCsoft}}
Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games