Amazon's 'New World' to Go Offline in 2027; A Farewell to an Ambitious Adventure
In a significant announcement, Amazon has declared that its massive multiplayer online game, New World, will officially be discontinued on all platforms starting January 31, 2027.
Recently delisted, the game is no longer available for new purchases. However, existing players can continue their adventures in Aeternum until the servers are finally taken offline next January. The current Nighthaven season will be extended until the game’s closure.
«We want to thank the players for your dedication and passion,»
reads a statement on the New World website. «We are grateful for the time spent crafting the world of Aeternum with you. Together we built something special. While we are saddened to say goodbye, we’re honored that we were able to share so much with the community.»
A Journey of Challenges and Achievements
Initially launched with much fanfare, New World was one of Amazon’s few successes in the gaming sector. Despite a peak of 913,634 concurrent players on Steam in 2021, player engagement dwindled over time.
The announcement of the game’s closure ties into a larger strategy shift by Amazon, which includes maintaining the game only until the end of 2026. This decision followed a wave of layoffs affecting 14,000 positions within the company.
Future Projects and Industry Speculation
As New World winds down, Amazon has expressed its focus on other upcoming projects, such as Amazon Games Montreal’s March of Giants and a new Tomb Raider installment. The company also plans to further develop games tailored for the Luna cloud service.
Amidst these developments, there is uncertainty around the Lord of the Rings MMO that Amazon had previously announced, with updates still pending.
Offers to Keep the Spirit Alive
In an unexpected twist, Facepunch Studios’ COO Alistair McFarlane proposed buying New World for $25 million, asserting that «games should never die.»
“As with everything we do at Facepunch, empower the community. Give them control, make servers publicly hostable. A game will live forever in the hands of a dedicated community,”
McFarlane tweeted, suggesting community-driven server hosting as a way to preserve the game’s legacy.
This sentiment resonates with many players and developers who believe in the enduring life of online communities, prophesizing a potential revitalization led by the community itself.