Lost Ark Update: Faster Levelling and Progression Fixes for MMO Gamers

Amazon Games and Smilegate RPG haven’t forgotten about Lost Ark’s loyal players, and their latest move shows a serious commitment to revitalizing the massively multiplayer online action RPG. After a massive dip in player activity since its hugely popular Western launch, Lost Ark is receiving a major overhaul aimed squarely at improving the game’s leveling and progression experience.

Why Lost Ark Needed a Revamp

When Lost Ark launched in the West in early 2022, it soared to the top of the charts, even becoming the second most played game in Steam history by concurrent player count. However, the buzz gradually faded due to bottlenecks in progression, confusing systems, and grind-heavy gameplay loops that eventually wore down even its most enthusiastic fans.

One of the most commonly cited complaints was the steep and tedious mid-game progression. New players struggled to reach the exciting endgame content, stuck instead in slow quests and repetitive grinds.

What Players Were Saying:

• “Leveling felt like a chore rather than part of the fun.”
• “There’s just too much filler content before I can get to the interesting stuff.”
• “Progression was confusing, especially for newcomers.”

Now, Smilegate and Amazon hope to flip the script with a much-needed update.

The Core of the Update: Faster Levelling and Smoother Progression

In their latest developer blog, Amazon detailed sweeping changes that will make leveling up faster and significantly more rewarding. The goal? To get players into high-quality content quicker and to reduce the tedium of early and mid-game play. Here’s what to expect:

Reduced XP Requirements Across the Board

Perhaps the most impactful change is a reduction in the XP needed to level up your character. This means:

• Faster advancement through early-game content
• Less time spent grinding repetitive monsters
• More accessible endgame for both new and returning players

Streamlined Quest Structures

Amazon is also simplifying many of Lost Ark’s quest lines to eliminate unnecessary steps and travel. This ensures that:

• Questing feels more fun and less like a checklist
• Players remain engaged in the game’s overarching story
• Less downtime moving from zone to zone

Changes to Known Progression Pain Points

The update focuses on reworking areas where players have historically struggled. These updates include:

• Rebalancing gear progression paths
• Better guidance through honing and power progression
• Adjusted power spikes that previously caused bottlenecks

Returning and New Players, Rejoice

The goal of this update isn’t just to cater to the hardcore base—it’s aimed at bringing lapsed players back and helping total beginners ease into the game. Lost Ark has been known for its incredibly fun late-game content like Legion Raids and Abyss Dungeons, but far too many players never made it to those highlights without investing dozens of hours first.

By removing grind-heavy early sections and speeding up the pace of play, Amazon is creating space for:

• Re-engagement from former players who left due to burnout
• Easier onboarding for new players confused by the many systems

Other Quality of Life Improvements on the Horizon

While the leveling changes are the centerpiece of this new update, Amazon has hinted at additional systems getting some attention too. These upcoming tweaks are expected to include:

• User interface simplification for gear upgrades
• More intuitive material management
• Enhanced item tooltips to reduce confusion

This plays directly into the developer’s intention to “remove barriers to content and provide a more enjoyable, streamlined gaming experience.”

Events, Catch-Up Mechanics & Bonuses

Alongside these system updates, players can anticipate:

• Time-limited catch-up events for faster progression
• Daily login rewards to supplement gear advancement
• Boosted XP events and honing materials for alt characters

What This Means for Lost Ark’s Future

This latest update is more than just a level tweak—it’s a strategic response to the long-standing critique of progression friction. It also signals that Amazon is committed to building a more accessible and enjoyable MMO experience in Lost Ark’s future.

Is this enough to reignite the player base? Time will tell. But what’s clear is that Smilegate and Amazon are listening, adapting, and trying to recapture the magic that launched Lost Ark to stardom.

With refined systems, faster access to content, and fewer progression headaches, Lost Ark is shaping up to be a much more welcoming and rewarding experience in the months ahead.

Final Thoughts

If you left Lost Ark due to the grind, now might be the perfect time to return. Whether you’re a veteran looking for smoother alt progression or a newbie who bounced off due to complexity, this update represents a significant pivot in the game’s philosophy—a shift from “long grind” to “fast fun.”

Stay tuned for the patch release dates and additional QoL roadmap features that will define the next phase of Lost Ark.

Looking Ahead:

• More frequent content updates
• Global collaboration events & seasonal challenges
• Player feedback-driven adjustments going forward

If Amazon and Smilegate can keep up the momentum, Lost Ark may once again find itself at the top tier of MMO experiences in 2024 and beyond.

Ready your gear, sharpen your swords, and dive into Arkesia once more—the journey just got a lot more exciting.