Summary

  • The Throne and Liberty developer, NCSoft, has announced layoffs due to financial troubles.
  • The company will undergo a restructuring and aims to focus on developing new intellectual properties in the future by collaborating with independent studios.
  • Despite the initial success of Throne and Liberty, NCSoft emphasizes the need for reorganization for the long-term survival of the studio.

NCSoft, the South Korean developer behind the recently released Throne and Liberty, has confirmed significant layoffs as part of a company-wide restructuring due to ongoing financial difficulties. The decision, which affects various departments, marks a challenging moment for the studio, despite Throne and Liberty’s initial success.

Founded in 1997, NCSoft has developed a number of MMORPGs over the years, including titles like Lineage, Blade & Soul, Aion, and Guild Wars. NCSoft is well-known in important markets like Korea, Japan, Europe, and North America. Besides its online games, the company has also started making mobile games. But even with its past successes, NCSoft is facing financial problems that are affecting the whole gaming industry.

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Every Throne and Liberty Class Explained

Throne and Liberty doesn't feature traditional classes, but its weapon-based class system allows players to choose from seven unique playstyles.

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According to a report from South Korean news agency Yonhap, NCSoft's co-CEOs, Taek-Jin Kim and Byung-Moo Park, said they feel deeply responsible for the layoffs. They explained that the company’s financial problems came from a management approach that kept too much decision-making and resources at headquarters, which ended up hurting the company's performance. This setup also stifled the creativity and innovation NCSoft was once known for, pushing them to rethink their strategy.

NCSoft Lays Off Employees as Part of a Restructuring Process Due to Financial Issues

Even though it explored different ways to fix the financial issues, the leadership ultimately decided that a major reorganization was necessary, joining many other studios that have laid off employees in 2024. This includes canceling some projects and cutting support functions that aren't competitive anymore, as well as laying off staff. NCSoft stressed that, while this restructuring is needed for the company to survive in the long run, it is committed to providing support and compensation to the employees affected.

The layoffs come as a surprise, especially given the early success of Throne and Liberty. After its release in October 2024, the game quickly took off, especially on Steam, where it surpassed popular titles like PUBG and GTA 5. In just its first week, Throne and Liberty reached a peak of over 300,000 players on Steam alone and secured a spot among the top five most-played games on the platform.

The game's success wasn't just on Steam; it pulled in over 3 million players across all platforms, including PlayStation and Xbox, showing why now could be the perfect time to play Throne and Liberty. While the studio deals with the restructuring, it plans to focus on creating new intellectual property in the future by working with independent studios. This approach will give them more flexibility and boost their creativity.

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Throne and Liberty
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MMORPG
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 52%
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Released
October 1, 2024
ESRB
T For Teen // Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
NCSoft
Publisher(s)
NCSoft, Amazon Games
Engine
Unreal Engine 4, Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Number of Players
1
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Join the battle and immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of THRONE AND LIBERTY, a free-to-play game that revolves around guild-focused combat. Engage in thrilling battles against dozens to thousands of other players and fantastic creatures in group battles and massive Castle Sieges. Quick thinking and active decision-making are critical because every choice you make in the ever-changing world of Solisium carries weight and directly shapes your gameplay experience.

THRONE AND LIBERTY captures the essence of classic MMORPGs while introducing new gameplay elements, adding depth and excitement at every turn. Choose your dual-weapon loadout to customize your approach on the battlefield, or morph into creatures of the land, water, and sky to traverse the vast and seamless world, or even take temporary control of a defeated boss to turn the tide of battle in your favor. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure where you’ll need to gather your guild, prepare for battle, and claim the throne.

Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
Genre(s)
MMORPG
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
40.49 GB
OpenCritic Rating
Fair