Yes that is exactly what happened. Turbine also promised players "lifetime access" to the game. Some enthusiasts are working on server emulators WB be damned. The whole thing seems so pointless. WB isn't using the IP or the old source code for anything yet they go out of the way to piss off a bunch of fans and break the promises made by the previous IP holders.

Everybody carries a smartphone. A device that has microphones, cameras, and positioning sensors. A device that is a black box in which they have no control over the software (mostly) and firmware. We know that the echo only records and sends audio when it has been activated by the wake word. If you are concerned that the microphone might be activated nefariously without the wake word why do you carry a smartphone? Your phone has even more data about you (video, location, audio, emails, browser history, etc) and you carry it everywhere with you. If you are concerned about devices spying you should be more concerned about your phone.