AMAZON EXITS MMO MARKET, HANDS OFF GAMES

This marks Amazon's complete exit from the MMO space following last year's announcement to halt significant work on first-party AAA games, particularly MMOs. Throne and Liberty transitions to FirstSpark Games and NC in the fourth quarter of 2026. Lost Ark, which launched in the West through Amazon Games in 2022, will be operated by developer Smilegate beginning in early 2027. The handoff follows Amazon's broader retreat from game development. The company had invested heavily in the gaming sector, but faced challenges competing with established studios and maintaining player bases for long-term live-service titles. Both transitions represent a strategic shift for Amazon, which continues to focus on its core cloud computing and retail operations rather than gaming.