During gamescom 2023, MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch was able to try out the new MMORPG Throne and Liberty and conduct an interview with Merv Lee Kwai. He revealed some details that make the game look significantly better.
What were the problems so far? Throne and Liberty was considered a very static MMORPG, where PvP plays a major role and is possible everywhere. Additionally, the karma system was supposed to be disabled at night.
There were also an autoplay feature and questionable decisions regarding monetization. I personally had long lost hope, even though I was still looking forward to the game.
But after the new interview, I am very optimistic. Throne and Liberty may not be an MMORPG for everyone, but Amazon is working hard on the weaknesses to make it more accessible. Three points, in particular, have convinced me:
- No PvP requirement
- No autoplay
- No Pay2Win in the shop
Amazon itself emphasizes in a subsequent statement to us:
“Throne and Liberty is still in development, and while we are very excited to talk about some of the changes before the upcoming tech test, it’s still too early to confirm how exactly these changes will ultimately be implemented in the final version.
Here you can watch the gameplay trailer from the Summer Game Fest:
PvP only at specific times and not at every event
Can the PvP be avoided? Lee Kwai told us that PvP in the open world will not be as present as originally thought. The zones are initially PvE areas.
Each area has an outpost that can be fought over. This happens at a specific time every 2 to 3 days. When the battle mode is active, open PvP is in effect in that area. However, this will be announced in advance.
PvP also exists with certain world bosses and world events. However, the zone where PvP takes place will be marked with a ring. Anyone who does not enter this ring will not be flagged for PvP. Additionally, there will be world events that completely avoid PvP.
There will certainly be situations where one accidentally ends up in PvP. But I have managed to completely avoid PvP in the open world so far. […] If you stay outside the marking, you cannot be attacked, by anyone.
Merv Lee Kwai in the interview at gamescom 2023
In a Korean interview, it was mentioned that there would be PvP without restrictions and karma system during the night cycle. However, this should not be the case in our version. However, certain dungeons will only be open at night, where there will again be PvP.
Currently, Amazon is also experimenting with pure PvE dungeons. Whether these will be implemented is still open.
Is the focus still on PvP? Yes, Throne and Liberty will be a PvP MMORPG. It is about controlling the outposts in the areas. Here, any number of players can meet in the open world.
But that is precisely what should make it so exciting. In a guild, only 50 to 70 people can play together. However, many more players can participate in the battles for the outposts.
What I love about Throne and Liberty is the fact that everything happens in the open world. This allows for so many different things to happen. Other guilds can intervene in the fight and choose a side. But they can also betray each other.
Merv Lee Kwai in the interview at gamescom 2023
The same applies to the biggest event in the game: the battle for the castle. Currently, there is only one of these, and it can be besieged every 2 weeks.
Merv Lee Kwai revealed to us that guilds can form alliances to avoid friendly fire. However, the alliance can also be dissolved in the middle of battle. This has already led to some crazy stories in the tests.
Castle owners benefit from various bonuses but must also actively reward themselves. For example, an outpost collects taxes, which must then be transported to the castle. Other guilds can attack this caravan and thus seize a part or even all of the taxes.
No autoplay, unless the players want it
Will we get autoplay? No, at least not in the next technical test. In this, Amazon completely disables the feature. However, they want to monitor whether the deactivation is well received, as autoplay is not completely condemned.
Lee Kwai explains that it served a purpose and was associated with the grind system. Therefore, the deactivation is not a final decision, but they want to respond to player feedback.
Based on our experience, Western players prefer not to have autoplay.
The shop comes without Pay2Win
What was said about monetization? In the Western shop of Throne and Liberty, there will be no Pay2Win. An item that has been criticized, is a token that allows players to farm for 8 hours after logout. This item will not exist in our version.
No degradation in equipment, focus on consoles, and a faster combat system
What else was revealed to us? During the interview, we also discussed the topic of equipment. The system mixes random drops with targeted upgrades:
- You can find items in various rarities. Green items can only be upgraded to +6, while rarer items can go up to +12.
- While there can be failures during the upgrade, items are never destroyed or downgraded.
- You can craft rare items yourself through crafting.
Amazon also places a high value on the console version. This will already be included in the next test and is intended to be released simultaneously with the PC, if possible. However, there will definitely be crossplay between the platforms.
The MMORPG will have a German localization for the texts, but the voice acting will initially remain in Korean, English, and Japanese. However, German voice lines have not been completely ruled out.
The static battles have already been addressed and partially revised by NCSoft. I was able to test 30 minutes of the “new” version myself. More about the combat feeling will be revealed next week in a small preview report. Check back again.
When is TL coming out? The release is still planned for 2024. More precise information – including a closed beta – has not yet been provided.
What do you think of the information from the interview? Does it give you hope for Throne and Liberty?
