Reason 3: The Game World
When Throne and Liberty is released, you can look forward to one of the most beautiful MMORPGs to date, featuring diverse regions, stunning panoramas, immense visibility, and bizarre creatures (just take the massive golem transformations) that come into play during castle sieges).
Additionally, exploring the game world is a lot of fun. With the shape-shifting forms available to you very early on and the grappling hook, your character feels wonderful and mobile. You will encounter quest givers or secrets everywhere.
Furthermore, the game world is said to dynamically respond to weather and environmental influences as well as to the time of day. For example, when it rains, lower caves become inaccessible, but you can swim to previously unreachable areas. Or you may encounter a humanoid boss during the day that transforms into a werewolf at night and drops different loot.
Here you can see the character creation from Throne and Liberty:
Reason 4: NCSoft
Just looking at the role the Korean version of Throne and Liberty has played in NCSoft’s financial reports so far, one might quickly get the impression that the experienced publisher and developer wants to hush up its new MMORPG after the difficult launch in Korea.
At the same time, one must acknowledge that NCSoft has been making enormous efforts for many months to address the problems of the MMORPG and implement the community feedback. This started last year with the extensive adjustments of the combat system.
After the launch in Korea, there was a comprehensive update in July, which brought new content and improved fundamental systems. In August, the next major patch followed, which included: a new rune system that sparked Pay2Win accusations. Shortly thereafter, the feedback had an impact: NCSoft softened the feature and made it fairer.
Many of the new features seem to have a significantly positive impact on the player experience. At least the interim assessment by Kanon on YouTube after the August update is very positive. Since the open beta, the combat experience and camera controls are reported to have improved significantly.
Reason 5: The Competition is Weakening or Taking Its Time
2024 was supposed to be THE year for new MMORPGs. While various expansions and chapters for established titles like WoW, Guild Wars 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Final Fantasy XIV have provided some fun, many hopeful candidates are scarce.
- Tarisland was a good quick fix for players with little time, but nothing more.
- Blue Protocol has been canceled before it could come to the West.
- ArcheAge 2 has been postponed and is expected to be released sometime by March 2026.
- Aion 2 will also not be released until 2025.
- The release window for Chrono Odyssey is – you guessed it – set for 2025.
- Pax Dei disappointed at the early access launch.
- Corepunk is oscillating between successful alpha test phases and mixed alpha impressions. Early access is still planned for November 2024.
Apart from the launch of Throne and Liberty and the early access start of Corepunk, MMORPG fans are particularly looking forward to two potential highlights: the Aeternum launch of New World on consoles and the start of the Alpha 2 of Ashes of Creation. Additionally, there are smaller releases like Brighter Shores.
In short: If you want to experience the final launch of a new, ambitious MMORPG this year, then Throne and Liberty is your best and only chance.
What else do I need to know about Throne and Liberty? Throne and Liberty will be released on October 1, 2024, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. There will be crossplay between the platforms. The MMORPG will be financed through an in-game shop, battle pass, and real money currencies. For all further details, check out our comprehensive overview: All you need to know about classes, release, crossplay, gameplay, payment model, early access, and platforms of Throne and Liberty.
- 1
- 2
