Lineage III (Project TL) Finally Has a Name: Throne and Liberty
Lineage III (Project TL) Finally Has a Name: Throne and Liberty
I’m gonna be real with you all, when NCSoft confirmed that Project TL – AKA, Project The Lineage – AKA, Lineage Eternal – AKA, Lineage III, yes, we’ve really gone through that many incarnations of the game – would be launching Globally in 2022 on PC and Console.. I wasn’t overly optimistic.
Given we hadn’t seen any new footage in years made me even less certain, but as of earlier today, NCSoft revealed that the game has undergone an entire overhaul, from a top-down isometric MMO like Lost Ark, to a full third person action MMO like Black Desert with new gameplay mechanics that could potentially revolutionize the MMO genre.
And holy crap it looks ridiculously good.
I’ve been hyping up and covering this game for years – since I first heard about it alongside Lost Ark back in 2016? 2017? And today, we get to look at an almost complete product for a game I’ve been waiting for since the inception of MMOByte.
In the official blog post made by NCSoft, they went on to confirm that Throne and Liberty is going to be releasing in the second half of this year. Globally, it seems, as they note that they are going to be actively pursuing various different genres based on different models, and will be actively entering the global market.
They announced 5 games earlier this year, “not only MMORPGs, but also interactive movies, action battle royales, and collectible RPGs. All these games will be serviced in the global market.”
These 5 games, which I covered last month in a dedicated video are not the only games that are in the process of development. NC confirmed that they will “be releasing a variety of videos showcasing new IPs shown in February one by one. We also plan to create IPs that have not yet been made public.”
Again, this includes MMOs, RPGs and more.
And they specifically state that these games will be built specifically for different platforms. But Throne and Liberty will be exclusive to PC and console.
Concerning Throne and Liberty, the devs went on to elaborate a little on why the game has taken as long as it has to release.
“The original objective of the project was “let’s make the next-generation Lineage,” a sentiment they express was held approximately 3 years ago. However, after “remaking the story of Throne and Liberty, it was materialized as a new IP.”
“In the process of development, a lot of the original system and content had to be adapted or removed to follow the current game trends. As a result, the gameplay also gradually became different from the original.
Decisively, we wrote a completely new story, and after this work, questions arose within the development team as well, like ‘Should this be called Lineage?’ So we changed the name to fit the new story. This also reflects the will of the development team to break the shell of Lineage.
”
In essence, they felt like the game wouldn’t perform as they’d anticipated with the dated graphics, gameplay and mechanics.
“Throne and Liberty is a project created by reconsidering the core values that the next-generation MMO on PC and console should show.
Numerous efforts went into designing how immersive the world is where players play. The environment has been carefully constructed so that many people can continue to have new experiences and enjoy in the world of Throne and Liberty.”
Admittedly, that’s quite the grandiose claim to make. “Next-generation MMO?” This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that. But given how innovative Lineage, Aion and Blade & Soul were, I’m open to giving them the benefit of the doubt.
“For example, there have been various attempts to make field play less monotonous. Even in the same area, the terrain may change as the weather changes, the flow of battle may change depending on the direction of the wind, or you may encounter new mobs over time.
Hunting methods and purposes are constantly changing accordingly. The geographical features, the environment, and the player, these three factors influence each other, and we put a lot of effort into making the play come out in different ways even in the same area. We expect that diverse variables will create a vast array of gameplay.”
I take that back. THIS is a grandiose claim to make. An ever evolving game world where terrain changes as the weather changes, and the flow of battle being dependent on the direction of the wind? Migrating monsters?
I would love for this to be a thing, and if they somehow implement it, and it functions as we expect, then yes, this could be the biggest MMO in decades. But I just feel like they’re ideas are a little too grand.
They had a few things to say concerning it’s release in various different regions.
“It might sound rather ideal, but I think that if we appeal to players purely for enjoyment, it can be loved without boundaries between generations or regions.
Thus, we created Throne and Liberty by thinking about what NC has missed so far and focusing on making up for it. We did not specifically divide the East and West or focus on a specific target.”
While a little vague, it seems as though they don’t plan on having regional restrictions, but they didn’t confirm whether a Western release would come simultaneously with, or after the Korean release.
This is going to be a very narrative-driven game. The devs feel that for players to fully enjoy an MMO – or a game more specifically, you need to find yourself engrossed in a larger world filled with lore and personality.
But that isn’t it. Story is important, but so is content. Which was also addressed. World bosses, dungeon bosses, raid bosses. Large, elite monsters. There will be a lot of difficulty – a lot of challenge present in-game that will require an adequate amount of teamwork.
These encounters, especially the world boss fights are going to require active participation by large quantities of players all cooperating with one another.
But given this is an MMO, you know that that’ll never happen.
The world itself was elaborated on a little, with the devs confirming that their goal was to seamlessly connect the entire world together.
So the player could move three-dimensionally. In light of this, they’ve made it so there is no fast-travel found within the game, rather, there needed to be a method with which to traverse the land at an increased rate, and thus they opted to allow players to transform into animals.
Yup, animals. So you can run faster across land. Swim faster through the water. Kinda like a Druid in World of Warcraft. Interesting direction to take, I know.
In an effort to further revolutionize how combat mechanics function in-game, they promise that weather conditions are going to affect combat physically. As an example, when you fire your bow, the strength of the wind is going to affect the range and trajectory of your arrow.
When it’s sunny, lightning-elemental magic is only going to hit a single target, as opposed to the magic becoming an AoE during stormy weather.
Seriously, I kid you not. If they somehow manage to find a way to physically implement these features into the game – which they claim they’ve already done, then this is going to be absolutely massive.
In another interesting direction, it turns out one of their other games, Project E, is going to share the same game-world with Throne and Liberty. They’ll be set on different continents, but be completely connected lore-wise.
Sharing a world-view is.. something you don’t typically see. It’s like if they split Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms into entirely different games.
Each game has their own unique narrative, setting, and will operate separately from one another. Project E will be Korean-inspired, while Throne and Liberty will be based around Medieval fantasy.
And.. that’s it. This game could be a monolithic, ground-breaking MMO that absolutely dominates the genre for years to come.
Or it could go down as one of the largest failures in history, given it’s been in development as Lineage III for 11 years, and Throne and Liberty for 4 by the time it releases later this year.
Which once more, they’ve confirmed they’re still on track for, Globally, as well. 2022, boys. This is it.
NCSoft Unleashes Gameplay Trailer For Throne And Liberty, The Former Lineage Eternal/Project TL
It’s been over a decade since we first laid eyes upon Lineage Eternal, the would-be grand follow-up to NCSoft’s immensely popular Lineage MMORPG series. MMOBomb’s first coverage was in 2014, when previews for the ARPG-style game were shown off at the G-Star convention in South Korea. Since then, we’ve seen closed beta tests (2016), an engine switch, which led to it being «delayed significantly» (2017), a name change to Project TL (2017), a promised launch «next year» (2020), and another promised launch in the second half of 2022. At this point, the only thing «eternal» about Lineage Eternal/Project TL seems to be its development time.
Maybe this time NCSoft really means it, though. A new trailer debuted yesterday for Throne and Liberty — covering the T and L in Project TL — and it looks pretty sweet.
It shows off a good bit of gameplay, including a variety of class mechanics, traversal options like vaulting and grappling hooks, and huge PvP siege battles featuring giant monsters. (My favorite part is the «carry» at 2:30.) There’s also a cinematic trailer for Project E, which was teased last month; the two games actually take place in the same world, but on different continents, one European-flavored and one with a Korean feel.
If you want words to go with the visuals, check out the blog/interview that accompanied the trailers. Throne and Liberty is actually a new IP, unrelated to Lineage, and it’s designed to appeal to players worldwide: «We did not specifically divide the East and West or focus on a specific target,» said NCSoft’s Jong-ok Ahn.
When discussing the game’s content, Ahn said that his team «paid a lot of attention to the story,» which could be good or bad, depending on whether that story resonates with fans or is just seen as a tedious barrier to suffer through before getting to the good parts of a game (hello, Lost Ark).
He also said that «far more players are more interested in overcoming well-designed challenges than competing to reach their limit,» so many of the game’s toughest challenges «can only be accomplished if multiple players understand the characteristics and skills of each boss well and use their abilities to cooperate.» Make of that what you will, but my interpretation is that there’s going to be at least a little attention paid to a more Western style of progression and endgame.
Other cool stuff from the interview:
- Players can transform into animals, and even carry other players around in some forms.
- Weather and the environment will play a factor in the game.
For instance, wind can affect bow-and-arrow accuracy, while a sewer that might allow access to a tunnel during a siege can be filled with rain and be unusable. Players can even cause «a solar eclipse or rainstorm.» - Since both Throne and Liberty and Project E are set in the same world, «Important events that happened on the same planet are interpreted and progressed in completely different ways in the two games.» One of these involved a «War of the Old Gods,» whose events reverberate throughout both games.
One last interesting tidbit: NCSoft Principal Development Management Officer Moon-young Choi said, «Last year, we focused on the development of mobile MMORPGs, but this year we will be challenging various genres based on different models and will actively enter the global market.
» Given the massive influence mobile games have had on NCSoft’s financials over the past few years — often accompanied by a lackluster performance from its PC titles — we’ve openly wondered if the company would downsize its PC sector in favor of more mobile development. Choi’s statement seems to indicate that won’t be the case, which should get a thumbs-up from fans of games like Blade & Soul, Aion, and Guild Wars 2.
A couple of fancy trailers don’t make good games all by themselves, but considering the long wait we’ve all had for anything truly tangible about the newly named Throne and Liberty, even a jaded MMORPG fan like myself can’t help but feel a twinge of excitement for the upcoming titles. Now we’ll just have to wait and see if we really will get to play them by the end of this year.
Jason Winter, News Editor
Jason Winter is a veteran gaming journalist, he brings a wide range of experience to MMOBomb, including two years with Beckett Media where he served as the editor of the leading gaming magazine Massive Online Gamer.
He has also written professionally for several gaming websites.
Throne and Liberty — official site, release date in Russia, CBT and MBT, review of
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4.5/5 — (80 votes)
Genre : MMORPG | action
Platform : PC, Play Station, Xbox
Game engine : Unreal Engine 4
Developer : NCSOFT 🇰🇷
Publisher : NCSOFT 🇰🇷 Amazon (rumoured) 🇪🇺
Release Date : Fall 2022 (Korea), ~2023 (Global)
Payment Model : Free (Global)
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Official website of : tl.
plaync.com
Fan group VKontakte: vk.com/throneandliberty
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System requirements:
unknown
Throne and Liberty (Project TL) is a new online third-person MMORPG game (not isometric!), based on Lineage Eternal. It is known that Throne and Liberty will not be connected in any way with Lineage, as many thought. During the development process, NCSOFT decided that it would be a completely new IP project with its own history. The announcement of Project TL took place at NC Media Day 2017. South Korean developers use the Unreal Engine 4 game engine.
Read more about the game
Game review Throne and Liberty
NCSOFT says it’s better to think of the new project as a new MMORPG. Project TL is a traditional MMORPG based on familiar classes (there will be five of them at launch). The company took this step because of the negative feedback about Lineage Eternal after the PTA. Also confirmed was the information that Project TL inherited the development of the team that worked on Lineage Eternal. It is worth noting that the game pace will be more dynamic. nine0004
We can say with confidence that the new project will offer the best developments in LAE, combined with global work on bugs. Future players will see the same online action game, but a more advanced version. You are waiting for standard classes, realistic combat system and graphics, dynamic weather system, landscape change and destructible environments online, massive sieges and more.
NCSOFT’s new dynamic MMORPG
The developers of Throne and Liberty have made every effort to create an immersive world for players so that people can continue to have a new gaming experience and enjoy the gameplay.
The goal of the project is dynamics — even in the same area, the terrain can change depending on the weather, the course of the battle can change depending on the direction of the wind. Accordingly, the methods and goals of hunting are constantly changing. nine0004
Rich storyline
The main content of the game is to understand the character, and in order to get to know your character better, the storyline was emphasized. The developers also focused their attention on overcoming difficult moments by the players, only the well-coordinated gameplay of the players and competent tactics will help defeat the boss monsters.
Throne and Liberty is heavily influenced by environmental factors. For example, in archery, the direction and strength of the wind affect the range. In siege warfare, there are several ways to get into the castle, including underground sewers. However, when it rains, these places can fill with water and become an unusable route.
By the way, the player can also influence the environment. Under certain conditions, he is able to change the terrain if necessary, for example, causing a solar eclipse or a downpour. nine0004
Move around the world of Throne and Liberty on mounts
You can transform into various specialized beasts to move on land, water and air. There are areas that can only be really explored by making good use of the movement skills of a particular animal. You can also turn into them and pick up other players.
When will the release take place and what is the official site
At the moment, there is practically no information about the game. We only know what the South Korean giant thinks about platforms: PC, Play Station, Xbox. The creators of Lineage, Blade and Soul, Aion are planning to show a new game as soon as possible in 2022. NCSOFT has already opened the official website of the game, which is available in Korean and English. nine0004
The first stage of closed beta testing is scheduled for Q3 2022.
Right now, Throne and Liberty is being prepared for internal testing by the project team and future stages of the CBT. The head of developers noted that thanks to a large team, the project could be released earlier than originally expected. As for the release dates and regions, there is no information yet. Most likely, the novelty will be released on the global market in the 4th quarter of 2022 or early 2023 from Amazon Games. Stay with us and follow the news. nine0004
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Throne and Liberty — review and evaluation, description, news, all information
What is Throne and Liberty?
Throne and Liberty was born from the ruins of Lineage Eternal, which they decided to completely rework after a very unsuccessful closed Beta test. After reviewing the reviews, NCSoft decided not to risk it and devote more time to work on the continuation of the legendary MMORPG. The development is carried out on the Unreal Engine 4 and we can only hope that the studio will take all the best from the previous build and be able to bring the title to the proper level.
nine0004
Apparently, the problems of the project did not end there. For a long time there was no development news at all. The release date for the new CBT phase was set for 2020, but it had to be moved to a later date. It is alleged that a large team of cool designers is working on the new product, but even taking into account this fact, the release of the game in 2021 is a big question.
For a while, Throne and Liberty was the only NCSoft project developed exclusively for personal computers. However, after the rebranding, the studio announced that the game will be released not only on PC, but also on consoles. At the same time, it is the PC version that is the priority for developers, which gives hope for good optimization and more or less acceptable system requirements. nine0004
The game will be implemented following a shareware model. That is, you can create an account and enter Throne and Liberty without paying a penny, but for a pleasant gameplay, most likely, you will need to donate.
Overview of gameplay elements
Unfortunately, little is known about the gameplay. Representatives of NCSoft promise that they have redesigned Lineage Eternal beyond recognition. Instead of a system of heroes, familiar classes with the possibility of customization will be used, which is inherent in most Western MMOs. It is known about the presence of five classes, which include a tank, damage dealers of various varieties and a healer. Standard set for any command RPG. nine0004
The combat system in Throne and Liberty should be much faster than in the original Lineage. The environment will influence the course of the fight to some extent, forcing players to change tactics in order to adapt to the current situation. The game world can be somehow changed and destroyed. Perhaps the title uses some analogue of voxels. Some quests will require players to climb high mountains, or require some kind of interaction with the outside world in order to reach the goal of the mission.
Changing weather will also affect the gameplay. nine0004
A rich PvP system is planned for Throne and Liberty, including both castle sieges (after all, we are talking about the ideological successor to Lineage) and skirmishes in the open world. The developers claim that such battles will not have restrictions on the number of participants, and a small fight can turn into a large-scale battle. Guild wars will also play a big role and bring serious rewards to the winning side. Players who prefer smaller scale fights will be able to test their skills in special arenas where they will have to face opponents equal to them. If the developers manage to bring their ideas to life, then the TL project will be a godsend for PvP lovers. nine0004
Start of testing
If the release of the project in 2021 cannot be guaranteed, then full testing will most likely begin in the near future. It is known for certain that only residents of South Korea will be able to take part in the test, so if you live in Russia, you will either have to wait or resort to some tricks.
