New World Shuts Down Development: Amazon Ends Content Updates

Amazon Games Pulls the Plug on New World Updates

In a major shake-up at Amazon Games, the studio has announced the end of new content development for its fantasy MMO New World: Aeternum. The decision comes in the wake of significant layoffs, part of Amazon’s broader move to cut 14,000 jobs company-wide, signaling a major strategic shift for the gaming division.

According to Amazon, this decision reflects “strategic changes” and “the difficult decision to halt a significant amount of our first-party AAA game development work – specifically around MMOs.”

Final Updates and What Players Can Expect

After four years of consistent updates and expansions, Amazon confirmed that Season 10 and the Nighthaven update will mark New World’s final content release for both PC and console players.

“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 team shared in an official statement.

To show appreciation for its dedicated community, Amazon has made the Nighthaven release free for all players, along with the Rise of the Angry Earth expansion – which is now free for all PC players as well.

Servers Stay Up – For Now

While development has stopped, the New World servers will remain online through 2026, allowing players to continue exploring Aeternum for at least another year. After that, the game’s long-term future remains uncertain.

This announcement marks the end of an ambitious project that once aimed to redefine the MMO genre under Amazon’s banner. Despite its early hype and loyal fanbase, the game struggled to maintain momentum after its 2021 launch, facing challenges in player retention and content pacing.

The End of an Era for Amazon’s MMO Ambitions

New World’s sunset is more than just a single game winding down, it’s a reflection of Amazon’s evolving approach to game development. With many of its first-party MMO projects halted, the company appears to be re-evaluating its investment in large-scale live-service titles.

For longtime players, this marks the close of a unique chapter in MMO history – one that showcased Amazon’s growing pains in the gaming industry and the enduring passion of the New World community.