Throne and Liberty Loses 95% of Players

Throne and Liberty made its debut on October 1, 2024. This free-to-play MMORPG, a collaborative effort between NCSoft and Amazon Games, immediately garnered attention for its impressive visuals, large-scale combat, and the allure of a vast, evolving world. The game saw over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam alone during its initial launch, and more than three million players globally created characters in the first week.

However, this initial excitement proved to be short-lived. Less than a year later, Throne and Liberty has witnessed a significant decline in its player base. Currently, it averages around 13,000 concurrent players during peak hours on Steam, representing a dramatic 95% drop from its launch figures. So, what factors contributed to this decline?

The problems began at launch. While MMOs often experience queues and server congestion during their initial release, Throne and Liberty’s issues were particularly disruptive. Players reported connection errors, difficulties in character creation, and persistent login problems that extended beyond the initial days. Although NCSoft and Amazon eventually stabilized the servers, the initial negative impression had already taken its toll. First impressions are critical, after all.

For those who managed to access the game, the progression systems proved to be a significant hurdle. Throne and Liberty was promoted as a fairer free-to-play experience compared to NCSoft’s previous titles. It introduced a more affordable battle pass and eliminated the controversial subscription-like Blessing of Solisium. Nevertheless, the core design still heavily restricted player progression. Gear requirements for group content were stringent, upgrade materials were scarce, and acquiring them became a tedious grind. Although technically free-to-play, the game strongly encouraged players to spend money on progression boosts to remain competitive.

By February 2025, declining player numbers forced NCSoft to consolidate servers. Such decisions are typically not made so early in an MMO’s lifecycle. The number of servers was significantly reduced from 107 to 25 to maintain a reasonable population density. While these moves make the world feel more populated, they can also lead to overcrowding in certain areas. Furthermore, some players were unhappy about losing their original server communities.

Community sentiment deteriorated as the months passed. Players expressed their concerns on platforms like Reddit, Discord, and the official forums, criticizing the pacing of content, monetization strategies, and the lack of meaningful social features. Throne and Liberty promised dynamic large-scale events and epic cooperative battles, but in practice, the gameplay often revolved around instanced dungeons, gear score requirements, and repetitive world events that prioritized grinding over innovative gameplay.

The developers haven’t been inactive. NCSoft and Amazon launched the Wilds of Talandre expansion in March 2025, introducing a new zone, additional dungeons, and a refreshed progression system. Performance improvements, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life enhancements have been consistently implemented. The upcoming Solisium’s Awakening update is being presented as a significant turning point, promising open-world PvP battles, a 24-versus-24 battleground, a comprehensive housing system, new dungeons, higher gear tiers, and expanded language support for a global audience. It is hoped that these updates will revitalize interest and encourage former players to return.

Throne and Liberty is not necessarily doomed. A dedicated core player base still remains. Perhaps the game can still be revived. The necessary elements for a comeback are present, but Throne and Liberty requires significant updates, consistent communication, and a renewed emphasis on player trust to truly recover.