Following its recent revitalization with the Solisium’s Awakening update, Throne and Liberty has a robust roadmap ahead. NCSoft and Amazon Games have successfully rolled out highly anticipated features like player housing and Battlegrounds PvP, steadily positioning Throne and Liberty to compete with other top MMORPGs. However, fans of the new Orb support weapon will find some unwelcome news, as it’s slated for significant nerfs. Additionally, a planned revamp for the artifact system has been postponed.
The Orb, introduced with the recent Solisium’s Awakening update, stands out as Throne and Liberty’s most innovative class design to date. According to globalization design manager Tico, “We continue to see that Orb remains really engaging in many different situations, and it’s been fantastic to see the variety of weapon combinations that players are pairing with it.” Yet, despite initial balance adjustments, he acknowledged that “it’s become clear that several weapon combinations paired with Orb and crossbows are still overperforming, specifically in PvE situations.”
The sheer dominance of this setup, Tico noted, was “trivializing some of the challenging content in the game that should feel rewarding to overcome.” This issue wasn’t just about gameplay difficulty; it had become so prevalent that players were beginning to exclude other classes from their teams. Consequently, significant adjustments to the Orb’s power are expected this month “to bring these combinations more in line with our performance expectations and restore healthy class diversity in group content.”
The Orb is also raising concerns in PvP, and it’s “likely” that further adjustments will be made to counteract particularly problematic interactions. Nevertheless, Tico mentioned that the team prefers to allow more time for new metas and counter-strategies to emerge before making drastic changes in PvP.
The new Battlegrounds PvP mode, Tico enthusiastically reported, “is even exceeding our own expectations,” with the team satisfied by its blend of accessibility and competitive depth. Current efforts are focused on mitigating spawn camping by making it more difficult for players to camp outside enemy bases. A preliminary ranked mode is set to launch in early November, which the team will monitor closely before tweaking elements like point capture mechanics. Initially, the ranked queue will operate during limited hours, while casual play remains available around the clock.
An in-game image showcases the Orb weapon being effectively utilized in a PvE encounter.
Tico then addressed the highly anticipated artifact revamp, which Amazon Games had previously promised for late October. “We’ve made the decision to delay this feature while we work to transform it to meet a higher standard,” he clarified. “We want to get it right. The artifact system is a core power element and we’d rather take the additional time needed to deliver something that truly enhances your experience rather than rushing out something that doesn’t meet our quality bar.” No new release date has been provided yet, so players will need to await further announcements.
In other news, the developers are “committed to significantly improving the accessibility of heroic items,” recognizing that their current state limits class and build diversity. A two-week heroic pass, launching on Thursday, October 16, is designed to provide “a significant boost to both heroic progression and weapon mastery,” serving as an excellent opportunity for both new and returning players.
For the long term, Amazon Games is developing features that will allow transfers between different heroic armor and accessory pieces. They also aim to enable more flexible swapping of heroic skill perks for weapons, offering players greater adaptability to various mission types. Beyond these changes, the team is re-evaluating how to reduce the overall progression cost for heroic gear, which Tico admits “is now acting more as a barrier to the build diversity we want to encourage.”
Another in-game screenshot vividly portrays the Orb weapon in action during a PvP battle.
Tico concluded by announcing that the newest dungeons, Colossal Coliseum and Fate’s Abyss, will be integrated into the Dimensional Trial rotation in late October. He expressed the team’s satisfaction with the mode’s recent overhaul and the increased player participation. He also hinted that more details on the recently introduced player housing feature will be revealed in the upcoming Eye on Solisium video next week.
If you’re seeking gaming experiences beyond Throne and Liberty, consider exploring the many excellent free-to-play options available on Steam. To ensure Solisium looks its absolute best, make sure your gaming rig is equipped with a powerful graphics card for optimal performance. Are these planned changes meeting your expectations, or are you mourning the impending nerfs to your beloved Orb? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the community discussion!