Amazon’s New World Will Receive No Further Content Updates
Amazon’s medieval-fantasy MMO New World recently passed its fourth anniversary. However, an announcement on the game’s official site confirms that the most recent update will be the final content drop for the title.
As the developer explains on the official update page, after four years of regular content releases and a sizable console launch, continued development of new content is no longer sustainable. The announcement states that the Season 10 / Nighthaven release will serve as the last major content update for New World on PC and consoles. To thank players, the Nighthaven content has been made available at no cost, and the earlier Rise of the Angry Earth expansion has also been provided free to all PC players.
Amazon says further information will be shared in the months ahead and has assured the community that game servers will remain active through 2026. Players will receive at least six months’ notice before any changes that could affect the ability to play New World: Aeternum are implemented. At present there are no plans to remove the game from digital storefronts or from the PlayStation Plus library, and the included FAQ indicates the company does not intend to sunset the game “at this time.” Routine bug fixes and server upkeep will continue, along with world bosses, bonus weeks, and most seasonal activities, although holiday-themed events will be discontinued.
New World launched in September 2021 and initially drew a massive audience — at one point topping more than 900,000 concurrent players on Steam. Player numbers have since dwindled, and this decision arrives as Amazon is undergoing large-scale corporate reductions. Reports indicate plans that could affect up to 30,000 roles across the company, including divisions tied to gaming. In June, CEO Andy Jassy signaled that broader adoption of AI tools is expected to produce efficiency gains that may reduce the company’s corporate headcount over time.
Rather than ending immediate access, Amazon’s approach preserves the live service for now while winding down content production; more specifics will be provided by the studio as they become available.
Sources: New World — official announcement, SteamDB concurrent peak, Bloomberg — reported layoffs, Bloomberg — Jassy on AI.
Source: Polygon
