Almost a year ago, the Western release of Lost Ark was confirmed by Amazon. Since then, there has been no new information. What is the current status of the MMORPG?
The current status: On August 19, 2020, the developer Smilegate announced that their award-winning and highly acclaimed MMORPG Lost Ark will be released in Europe and the USA. They signed a publishing contract with Amazon Game Studios, which is responsible for the release of the game in the West.
As a “target timeframe” for the release, Amazon indicated that it would be in 2021, according to the Korean site gameca.com. In April 2021, Smilegate emphasized in a statement that the contract with Amazon regarding the publishing of Lost Ark in the West is still in effect.
There are no changes in the contract schedule that we signed last year with Amazon Games. Even now, we are preparing our schedules according to the contract with Amazon.
(via greened.kr)
Since the announcement of the collaboration with Smilegate, almost 10 months have passed, and there have been no further statements from Amazon regarding the release of Lost Ark in Europe or the USA.
Amazon’s silence is unusual: Normally, developers and publishers try to communicate at least small bits of information to their communities, even if they can’t show anything yet. Whether in the form of blogs like with Ashes of Creation or even short personal tweets from developers like with Call of Duty Warzone.
These signals to fans are meant to show that work is still ongoing behind the scenes. On the other hand, it keeps the game in the memory and ensures that players continue to have it on their radar. This type of communication has not occurred with Amazon so far.
Outlook for 2021
Is there anything coming? After a year-long pause, the digital E3 fair will begin next week on June 12. During the multi-day event, developers and publishers present their latest games and announce updates or deals. It is the highlight of summer for many gamers.
This year, Amazon Games will also participate in the E3 fair. With their own MMO New World, which launches in August, they have something big to present. There are also hopes that new information about Lost Ark might finally come during the E3.
The timing for a big presentation of Lost Ark would be fitting:
- On one hand, E3 is one of the largest events in the gaming industry, even in purely digital form. Therefore, Amazon’s announcement would receive a lot of attention that could reignite interest in the MMORPG.
- On the other hand, 2021 is already almost halfway over. If Amazon is aiming for a release this year, it’s high time to start the first public tests. Rumors about internal alpha tests for staff have been circulating for quite some time. However, they were unsubstantiated and should be taken with a grain of caution.
Some fans also speculate that a release of Lost Ark in 2021 is unlikely, because Amazon would then be releasing a competitor to their own MMO New World. MeinMMO user Nostro noted back in February, for example:
I’m extremely hyped, but I think we should all not expect a release in 2021. We’re heading into March, no closed alpha/beta, not a single confirmed update from Amazon. I strongly expect spring/summer 2022. First comes New World.
Meanwhile in the East
These updates are coming to Lost Ark: In the regions where Lost Ark has already been released, the updates continue. While Korea always receives the latest content, the Russian and Japanese regions are steadily catching up.
- In Japan, the new big 16-player raid Kaishuter and the class Holy Knight were released.
- In Russia, a new episode of the story was added, and a new event took place.
- In Korea, two classes were released in recent months,loosening the gender lock in the game. Additionally, Korean players are getting a detailed system to dye and customize their outfits.
Smilegate is also planning to release their roadmap for the second half of 2021 in June. Based on experience, we can expect new classes, raids, and areas in it. So, it doesn’t look like the developers are slowing down or halting the pace of their updates.
What do you think about the current status of Lost Ark? Do you still have hopes for a release in 2021? How do you feel about your interest in the game? Let us know in the comments.
