The Sad Reality of Throne & Liberty

Summary

The video discusses the rocky launch and ensuing issues with the Korean release of the MMORPG Throne and Liberty. Despite positive early impressions, the game has since underperformed financially. Core problems include pay-to-win mechanics allowing players to purchase power, and widespread use of bots and macros giving an unfair advantage. With the Western release handled by Amazon, the game may still find redemption if changes are made, but expectations should remain measured. Ultimately the video analyzes the current state of Throne and Liberty in Korea and speculates on the potential trajectory when launched globally.

Takeaways

• 😕 Thron's launch in Korea has severely underperformed financially, as evidenced by NCsoft completely omitting the game in their latest earnings report
• 😢 Despite some initial positivity, Thron has faced declining interest and sentiment in the months following launch
• 🤔 Thron appears relatively popular in Korea still based on PC bang play rates, but globally interest has dropped since release
• ☹️ Thron's pay-to-win systems allow buying high level gear and upgrade materials, letting paying players progress faster
• 😠 The game is overrun by bots that give exploitative guilds significant advantages in the competitive end-game
• 😐 Thron offers compelling open world content and gameplay, but pay-to-win issues persist from the Korean launch
• 🤨 NCsoft is relying on Amazon's global launch to save Thron and make back their 10+ years of investment
• 🧐 Thron will likely see high launch numbers globally, but complaints around pay-to-win and bots may cause sharp declines
• 😕 Very little news about Thron's western release from Amazon recently - it will probably launch in 2024 amid low competition
• 🤔 The game's success rests on Amazon making changes to address pay-to-win and combat bots for long term retention

Q & A

What was the initial reception of Throne and Liberty when it launched in Korea?

The initial reception was quite positive, with good reviews praising the gameplay improvements, fluid combat system, tons of open world content, and removal of autoplay features.

Why did NCsoft not mention Throne and Liberty during their recent earnings report?

Throne and Liberty greatly underperformed after its Korean launch, so NCsoft is downplaying it and hoping that the global release handled by Amazon will help recoup costs.

Is Throne and Liberty popular among players in internet cafes in Korea?

Yes, it ranks among the top 20 played games in Korea's popular PC Bang internet cafes, above games like Black Desert Online, CS:GO, GTA 5, and Dota 2.

What are the two currencies in Throne and Liberty?

There is Solent, an earned in-game currency, and Lucent, a premium currency purchased with real money that can also be acquired by selling items in the player auction house.

How does the pay-to-win system work in Throne and Liberty?

Players can pay real money for Lucent to buy endgame gear and upgrade materials to reach max gear level faster than free players, but free players can reach the same gear power through gameplay.

What is the biggest problem facing Throne and Liberty currently?

The rampant use of bots and autoplay macros which allow players to farm materials and currency nonstop, giving them a big advantage in the guild competition endgame.

When is Throne and Liberty expected to have its Western release?

No release date has been announced yet. Amazon has not provided any updates on the Western version since October 2023.

What changes are expected between the Korean and global versions?

No major changes are expected regarding pay-to-win mechanics or botting issues. The core content and gameplay is likely to remain similar.

What factors caused NCsoft's earnings to drop 31% in 2023?

The video script does not provide information on the causes behind NCsoft's overall revenue decline beyond the poor performance of Throne and Liberty's Korean launch.

What approach is NCsoft taking regarding Throne and Liberty's future?

NCsoft is relying on and hopeful that Amazon's global launch of the game will help it succeed after the Korean version's disappointing performance.