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Smilegate
Smilegate is taking over Western publishing of Lost Ark from Amazon Game Studios in early 2027, and its subsidiary Smilegate Megaport is running global pre-registration for the upcoming RPG MIRESI: The Invisible Future.
Synthesized from 2
Yomimono stories · updated
Aug 28
Smilegate's two recent moves show the company pulling its games closer to its own operations. In August 2026, Amazon Game Studios announced it would stop publishing Lost Ark in Western regions, with Smilegate taking over in early 2027. The transition is part of Amazon's broader retreat from MMO operations, which also includes handing Throne and Liberty to NC and FirstSpark Games in the fourth quarter of 2026. Smilegate framed the change as a chance to reconsider the game's future direction, aiming to respond faster to player feedback and gradually close the content update gap with the Korean version.
Most player data will carry over, though in-game mail, chat messages, and some other elements will not transfer. Players will link their Steam accounts to Smilegate's system during the transition, and those who do not want their data moved can opt out through a dedicated page before the transfer date. The Japanese service for Lost Ark ended in March 2024, and the Steam store page remains restricted there, though the developer's overseas operation could open the door to a revival.
On the new game side, Smilegate Megaport opened global pre-registration on June 24, 2026, for MIRESI: The Invisible Future, a free-to-play time-travel RPG for iOS, Android, and PC. The game is developed by CONTROL9, a studio founded by key development members of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and Seven Knights 2, with art direction by illustrator Hyolra. Pre-registration commemorates the game's exhibition at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles. The release date has not been announced.
Key facts
- Lost Ark Western publishing transition
- Amazon Game Studios will step back from publishing Lost Ark in Western regions, with Smilegate taking over operations in early 2027. ↗
- Player data transfer
- Most player data will carry over, but in-game mail, chat messages, and some other elements will not transfer. ↗
- Steam account linking
- Players will link their Steam accounts to Smilegate's system during the transition, with an opt-out page available before the transfer date. ↗
- MIRESI pre-registration
- Smilegate Megaport opened global pre-registration for MIRESI: The Invisible Future on June 24, 2026. ↗
- MIRESI platforms
- MIRESI: The Invisible Future is a free-to-play time-travel RPG for iOS, Android, and PC. ↗
- MIRESI developer
- The game is developed by CONTROL9, founded by key development members of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and Seven Knights 2. ↗
- MIRESI art director
- The art director is illustrator Hyolra, known for his work on NIKKE. ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Announced
- Steam store page for Epic Seven · 2026-08-22
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/smilegate.
CC BY 4.0.
All coverage
Aug 28
Smilegate and Megaport opened the brand site for Dead Account: Two Blue Flames on August 26, releasing the first promotional video and the official theme song. The game, developed by IAN Games, adapts the manga Dead Account into a team-based roguelite action title. Players form parties of up to five characters, each with unique psychic abilities called den'no, and battle ghost accounts, the revived SNS profiles of the dead. The PV covers protagonist Enjo Aoshi's awakening and his transfer to Yaden Academy. Pre-registration is now live on iOS, Android, and PC via STOVE. Participants receive the SSR character Kie Urushigawa, a profile frame, and a title. Milestone rewards include 10 character recruitment tickets for every 100,000 registrants, up to 50 tickets at 500,000. The game will also be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 from September 19 to 21. The theme song is by Haru Igarashi, who also worked on the anime's music.
Aug 28
Smilegate announced on August 24 that the mobile RPG Epic Seven will launch on Steam within the year, with the store page already open since August 22. The announcement came through an 8th anniversary showcase video titled "Infinity (INFINITY)" released on the official YouTube channel on August 22, featuring producer Tak Gwang-Jin and development director Heo Dae-Gyun. The Steam version will support account linking via STOVE, gamepad controls, and a new server for first-time players, with matchmaking for World Arena and guild battles kept separate for a period before integration. The 8th anniversary updates include a new side story "Paradise Lost" starting August 27, new heroes Lizette and Politis, Unknown Pioneer, an offline auto-repeat feature, and a collaboration with Smilegate's other title Chaos Zero Nightmare, which adds heroes and new PvE content "Dimension Exploration" plus PvP content "Call of Chaos." The esports tournament E7WC 2026 begins qualifiers on September 12, with finals on November 28 at Super Plex Hall in Jamsil Lotte World Tower, Korea. Anniversary events from August 27 include 1,260 free Covenant Summons and a "Majestic Bunny Girl New Moon Luna" skin based on a player popularity vote. The game launched in South Korea in August 2018 and in Japan in November 2019.
Aug 22
Smilegate opened the Steam store page for Epic Seven on August 22, 2026, with the Steam version planned for release within 2026. The turn-based RPG, developed by Super Creative, features full-frame 2D animation. A new server will open alongside the Steam launch, and four events were announced.
Aug 14
Amazon Game Studios announced on August 12 that it will step back from publishing the Korean MMORPG Lost Ark in Western regions, with developer Smilegate taking over operations in early 2027. The transition is part of a broader retreat by Amazon Game Studios from MMO operations, which also includes handing over Throne and Liberty to NC and FirstSpark Games in the fourth quarter of 2026. Lost Ark, developed by Smilegate and operated in the West by Amazon Game Studios, will see most player data carried over, though in-game mail, chat messages, and some other elements will not transfer. Players will link their Steam accounts to Smilegate's system during the transition, and those who do not want their data moved can opt out through a dedicated page before the transfer date. Amazon Game Studios described the move as returning the game to its developers, while Smilegate framed it as a chance to reconsider the game's future direction, aiming to respond faster to player feedback and gradually close the content update gap with the Korean version. The Japanese service for Lost Ark ended in March 2024, and the Steam store page remains restricted there, though the developer's overseas operation could open the door to a revival.
Jun 24
Smilegate Megaport opened global pre-registration on June 24, 2026, for MIRESI: The Invisible Future, a free-to-play time-travel RPG for iOS, Android, and PC. The game is developed by CONTROL9, a studio founded by key development members of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and Seven Knights 2. The art director is illustrator Hyolra, known for his work on NIKKE. Pre-registration commemorates the game's exhibition at Anime Expo 2026, held in Los Angeles from July 2 to 5. Players can register via the official website, and in-game items will be awarded at launch based on the total number of registrants. The game is set in a world where multiple timelines intersect; players take the role of a Councilor and journey with characters Ende, Tieria, and Itsuka to save a world on the brink of destruction. Combat uses a real-time turn-based system where character positioning and movement affect outcomes. The release date has not been announced. Smilegate director Han Jae-yong said the pre-registration is meant to introduce the game to global users and create closer communication opportunities.