Amazon and its affiliates recently cut headcount by around 14,000, and the impact of that decision is still unfolding in its video game division. The latest is the announcement by Amazon Games that development will end on New World Aeternum.
Launched on September 28, 2021, New World Aeternum has continually received new content, with the latest being the Season 10 Nighthaven update. In a message posted on the game’s website, the developer thanked players for their feedback, which has helped to shape the game into what it is today.
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“After four years of steady content updates and a major new console release, we’ve reached a point where it is no longer sustainable to continue supporting the game with new content updates,” the developer wrote.
“The recently launched Season 10 and Nighthaven update will serve as the final content release for New World on PC and consoles. It is only after much consideration that we’ve reached this decision. To thank you, the New World community, for your support over the years, we have made the Nighthaven release available to you for free. To ensure all New World players can experience this content, we also made Rise of the Angry Earth free for all PC players.”
Will New World Aeternum become immediately unplayable?
While this will hit hard, especially on players who have become fond of the game, it is reassuring to know that New World Aeternum servers will remain active through 2026. Also, the game will still be downloadable for PlayStation Plus members.
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“Players of Aeternum: Your dedication and enthusiasm have made this New World adventure an unforgettable journey. We’re deeply grateful for every moment you’ve spent helping build this extraordinary world alongside us. It has been an honor to share Aeternum with you, thank you for helping make this game something truly special.”
If the servers will ever be turned off, the developer promised to notify players up to 6 months ahead. Players can still purchase in-game currencies and spend them in the game store.
New World Aeternum attracted a massive 913,634 concurrent players on Steam when it launched 4 years ago. That number has shrunk over time, with the daily peak concurrent players hovering around 30,000 to 50,000. At the time of writing, around 12,000 people were playing the game on Steam.
According to reports, teams working on MMOs, like Amazon Game Studios, were hit hardest by the recent layoffs. It is believed that more bad news will likely surface since the studio was working on multiple new titles before the layoffs.
How do you feel about the end of development on New World Aeternum? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
