Amazon Games has confirmed that it has ceased the development of new content for New World: Aeternum, its only large-scale MMO product. This comes on the heels of 14,000 layoffs at Amazon, a signal that the company is abandoning the large-scale original game development model. Servers will remain live until 2026, but their plans do not include further expansion packs.
New World launched in 2021 with the intention of establishing Amazon as a big player in the video game space. The game was popular at launch and although they had released expansions (including Rise of the Angry Earth), they were not able to maintain interest from players and largely fell off the gaming community map. The Company has cited both financial and strategic reasons for ceasing new content.
Season 10: Nighthaven will be the last update and it is free of charge for PC and console users. Amazon previously made the last expansion free to PC users as a thank-you to the community as well. The game’s maintenance, bug fixes and updates will continue as usual, but no new gameplay features will be added.
The announcement surprised many fans. New World maintained a moderate but loyal audience, often peaking at 50,000 players. Industry analysts suggest the project’s end reflects Amazon’s broader retreat from costly, long-term game development.
Amazon Games confirmed it will keep the servers running “smoothly” until 2026, with limited seasonal events and world activities. Players will receive at least six months’ notice before any shutdown or access changes.
The closure marks the end of a key experiment in Amazon’s gaming history. New World proved the company could build an MMO that worked — but also showed that sustaining one is an entirely different challenge.