„Free Nature” of New MMORPG Sparks Doubts. Throne and Liberty’s Devs Explained Main Ideas of Monetization System
The release of the long-awaited Throne and Liberty is approaching. The developers released detailed information on the rules governing the monetization of the game.
Throne and Liberty is a topic that MMORPG fans have been discussing since at least December 2023, when the game debuted on the Korean market. While the title is currently sparking controversy, mainly due to the presence of pay-to-win mechanics, it cannot be denied that it is equally intriguing. We recently learned the date of its release in English-speaking markets, and now the developers have discussed the upcoming changes in the game's business model (compared to the solutions used in South Korea).
There is no way to start this message other than by listing the "rules that embody the developer's values, guide his decisions, and serve as the basis for his business model." This is a clear attempt to respond to players' accusations of using p2w mechanics.
Here are the rules that govern Amazon Games:
- Player self-expression is paramount.
- Combat and power upgrades must be accessible to all players.
- Purchasing items from our in-game shop must feel rewarding, but never necessary.
Currencies in Throne and Liberty
In the new MMORPG from Amazon Games, we will have three currencies at our disposal:
- Lucent, which can be purchased for real money, but also obtained in various PvP events (castle sieges, selling items in the auction house - other possibilities will be added in the future).
- Sollant, which it will be can be acquired through various actions and activities. This currency is primarily used to purchase items from NPCs related to crafting, upgrades, and other essential systems.
- Ornamental Coins, which can be obtained through special in-game events (such as collecting lore books or Twitch Drops). The currency will also be available through a free battle pass. It will be released in a separate store.
Auction House in Throne and Liberty
The Auction House is a system that is supposed to be driven by players and will be a place for exchanging equipment and items. It differs from solutions from other MMO games in that you will be able to obtain the mentioned Lucents here and spend them later.
The developer emphasizes that the Auction House's final design may vary from the description in the announcement, as work on it is still in progress. The subsequent part of the text also indicates that the auction house will be linked to another system in the game - taxes.
The guild owning a particular castle will have the option to establish its own extra tax, in addition to the base tax collected from every auction transaction. The lucent obtained in this way by the guild will be allocated for various PvP events and members of the guild will have the opportunity to earn them by participating in these events.
Pass system in Throne and Liberty
In this case, two passes will serve as the base. Both options will come with a free and premium path, and the latter can also be purchased using Lucent currency.
Leveling Pass - available as a one-time purchase. This will allow players to obtain materials and items that accelerate the leveling process.
Battle Pass - will work on the same principle as similar systems in other games: it will provide new items, materials, and currency every season.
Furthermore, in Throne and Liberty, players will encounter an in-game store where they can buy Lucents using real money. Besides, in the store we will find cosmetic content, including outfits, emoticons, and others. These items won't be available for trading in the Auction House. Currently, the purchase of Early Access packages appears to be the final element of monetization, ensuring early access to the game (up to 5 days). Interestingly, players who decide to do so will play on separate, early-access servers - different from those who join the game at the actual premiere.
However, all of this is preliminary information and the developer will be updating it on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in the game, be sure to read the entire announcement and visit its website. Throne and Liberty will be released in the f2p model on September 17, 2024, on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. Open beta tests will take place from July 18 to 23 on the platforms mentioned above.
