One of the most hyped MMOs of 2023 appears to be a major let down

After a deluge of impressions from the beta version of Throne and Liberty, MMO fans are diving into the MMORPG, which was billed as one of the biggest releases in the genre this year.

It’s an interesting time in the MMO world right now. Both World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14 are in great shape, but there’s still a lot of hunger for the next massive MMO release. Throne and Liberty, a game that has been in development for several years, was meant to be the next big release. However, after some initial impressions, it all seems to have gone down the drain.

But why? It all comes down to combat. In the trailers and early marketing material, Throne and Liberty appeared to be a fast-paced, dynamic action game. Viewing this footage, would-be fans expected a fluid combat system like they would see in World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, Black Desert Online, and the vast majority of MMORPGs. It turns out that this is not the case! Throne and Liberty is a tile MMO, which means you can’t attack while moving.

This is a pretty dated approach, and it clashes with what many modern MMO players are used to. Throne and Liberty, that years ago started life as a new Lineage game (thanks to Engadget), continues the legacy of the series through the use of the combat system. It seems that despite the decision to develop Throne and Liberty as its own new property, the game remains tied to the once-popular MMO franchise.

The problem is that Lineage 2 was released in 2003. With roughly two decades of work invested in MMOs, modern games in the genre feel much better now than ever before. Unless you’re someone who likes it nostalgic, the stop-start combat stands out as a sore spot for many early testers.

This is reflected in numerous videos from some of the biggest MMO influencers in the space. Force Gaming released a video titled “Throne and Liberty is a Disaster”, pointing to both the clunky combat and the ability to toggle autoplay as indicators of the game’s shaky quality. TheLazyPeon recently recapped many of the most prominent reactions in a short video called simply “Throne & Liberty KEKW”, beating him for similar reasons.

Does this mean Throne and Liberty is a total washout? No. It still looks great of course, and you can play it on your phone. Also, it’s worth noting that much of this frustration seems to stem from clever marketing and a hype train gone a bit off the rails. If you’re aware of the Lienage style of gameplay that Throne and Liberty has at its core and you’re okay with it, Throne and Liberty may still be the MMO for you!

But for many, it’s a heartbreaking revelation. Are you still thinking about giving Throne and Liberty a try, or is it off your early game list? Let us know! Throne and Liberty will soon undergo a technical test, so you can register if you want to make up your mind!