Why Players Are Leaving Throne and Liberty

When Throne and Liberty launched globally in late 2024, it was one of the most anticipated MMORPGs of the decade. With cinematic visuals, dynamic weather systems, and promises of massive PvP warfare, the game exploded in popularity—drawing over three million players in its first week and peaking at 330,000 concurrent users on Steam.

Fast forward to October 2025, and the numbers tell a different story. Though Throne and Liberty celebrated its one-year anniversary October 1, SteamDB puts its player count between 15,000 and 30,000 concurrent players—a sharp drop that’s sparked debate throughout the MMO community. But does the decline mean the game is beyond saving? Not quite.

Why Are Players Dropping Throne and Liberty?

From my personal experience, I took a break from Throne and Liberty because it did not feel as if was friendly toward casual players. It felt as if it were a PvP money-grab. The many different Battle Passes they have out simultaneously offered nothing but growthstones, unlock stones, scrolls—pay to win items. Rarely ever cosmetics in the free or premium Battle Pass. The weapon and gear skins in the shop were overpriced. When I returned, there were too many customization systems to learn on top of skill traits and gear and weapon enchantments. My friends had already quit by then. So, I took another break. I returned however, when player housing was announced. There is still something missing. However, I am actually enjoying playing this time around.

Many MMOs stumble after launch, but Throne and Liberty’s fall was steeper than most. The following core issues is what led to the staggering decrease in Throne and Liberty’s player base.

1. Pay-to-Win Mechanics

The free-to-play model sounded appealing at first, but it quickly revealed its cracks. Premium upgrade tickets and exclusive store items created an unfair playing field. Players who want to compete in PvP often feel pressured to spend money, leading to a growing divide between paying and non-paying players.

2. Overwhelming Systems

Weapon synergies, skill transformations, guild mechanics, and layered progression trees sound exciting on paper. But when all these systems hit at once without clear guidance, they left many players, including myself, confused and frustrated. The tutorial barely scratched the surface, and new players are expected to research third-party guides to understand the basics.

3. Randomized Combat Outcomes

PvP combat often comes down to random chance. Evasion rates and RNG-based outcomes mean your attack could miss for reasons unrelated to player skill. This randomness is frustrating for competitive players, especially those who value precision and control in fights.

4. Excessive Grinding

Like most MMOs, progression requires long hours of repetitive farming. However, the difference here is that the drop rates for crafting materials are stingy, and leveling slows dramatically after the early stages. Without meaningful rewards to offset the grind, casual players lose motivation to continue.

5. Heavy Guild Focus

Large-scale guild systems are a double-edged sword. While they can create strong social bonds, they can also alienate solo players or small groups. In Throne and Liberty, some of the best content—territory wars, world bosses, and major events—require massive guild participation.

For players who prefer independence or smaller circles, there is little meaningful endgame content.

6. Stiff Combat and Clunky Movement

Visually, the game is stunning. But the combat animations often feel a bit sluggish, and character movement lacked fluidity. Input delays and animation locks made fights feel less responsive compared to other modern MMOs.

Personally, I love the game’s beauty, but the gameplay, too often, doesn’t measure up.

7. Slow Developer Reaction

Perhaps the most damaging issue is the slow pace of fixes. Core problems linger for months before meaningful updates rolled out. Although expansions like Solisium’s Awakening added new content, they didn’t address structural flaws quickly enough.

Why You Should Still Play Throne and Liberty

Despite these struggles, Throne and Liberty still has much to offer players outside of just being a free-to-play MMORPG. Beneath the surface issues lies a foundation worth revisiting. The developers have shown signs of renewed commitment, and there’s still plenty to love for both returning and new players.

1. A Stunning, Living World

Throne and Liberty’s world is breathtaking. Each region feels alive, from the misty Talandre Wilds to the gleaming towers of Solanport. The dynamic weather system changes both visuals and gameplay, creating unpredictable and cinematic moments during travel and battle.

2. Epic Large-Scale Events

The game excels at spectacle. Massive PvP sieges and world boss raids deliver some of the most thrilling large-scale battles in the genre. When dozens of players converge on a battlefield and weather effects shift mid-fight, it feels truly epic.

These moments remind players why MMOs can still capture magic that smaller games can’t replicate.

Player Morphed for Dash

3. Morph System

One of the game’s most unique features allows you to transform or morph into creatures or other forms for different types of mobility: flying and gliding, swimming, and dashing. You can also morph into creatures to help you pass through an area safely.

Used creatively, transformations can turn the tide in both PvP and PvE encounters.

4. Extensive Customization

While the many systems of customization can be overwhelming, the skill tree and weapon combinations are still two of Throne and Liberty’s best features. You can create a character build that fits your playstyle, mixing weapon types and magic affinities. For players who enjoy tinkering and theorycrafting, this flexibility is rewarding.

5. Strong Social and Guild Tools

For those who enjoy cooperative play, the guild system is genuinely impressive. Features like shared quests, voice integration, and real-time war coordination make organized play feel seamless.

When guilds work together toward conquest, it highlights what the game does best—community-driven, large-scale competition.

6. Rich Lore and Storytelling

The story follows Star-Born heroes who wield the fractured power of a fallen magic stone, all within a shared planetary setting called Novcrea. Through the main quest, side quests, and collections of books, journals, loose pages, and more, you can learn much about the main lore as well as seemingly insignificant side stories.

7. Player Housing

The introduction of Throne and Liberty housing has breathed fresh life into the game. Players can now purchase homes and furnish them with crafted or event-exclusive items. For players who enjoy crafting and decorating, the new profession, furniture crafting will keep them busy. Throne and Liberty player housing also revamped gathering skills.

Throne and Liberty’s first year has been a bit messy with many players left feeling burned out or disappointed. Yet, for all its flaws, it still offers beauty, ambition, and the kind of grand storytelling only MMOs can deliver.

If you gave up early, it might be time to check back in. New content, more balanced systems, and a dedicated community are giving the game a second wind. The game still has plenty of potential.

So, if you’ve been wondering why you should play Throne and Liberty, the answer is simple: it’s still evolving. The world of Solisium is waiting, and with the right balance of patience and curiosity, you might find the experience you hoped for the first time around.