Amazon winds down New World content as studio shifts away from MMOs

Amazon Games announced it will stop producing new content for New World: Aeternum. The recently launched Season 10 and the Nighthaven update will serve as the game’s final content release, with Nighthaven made available to all players for free. The studio said it will keep servers running through 2026 and provide at least six months’ notice before any changes that affect playability.

The decision comes amid wide layoffs across Amazon and cuts inside Amazon Games. Company messaging said continued content support is no longer sustainable. Bloomberg reporting links the move to broader restructuring at Amazon, and the publisher confirmed it is dialing back work on big‑budget MMOs in favor of other priorities.

Key details

• Final update: Season 10 and the Nighthaven expansion are the last planned content drops.
• Servers & availability: Amazon will keep servers online through 2026 and pledged a minimum six months’ notice before any player‑impacting changes.
• Access: New World remains purchasable and stays available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers “until further notice.” Nighthaven is being provided free to players this month.
• Broader context: Amazon Games is shifting focus away from MMOs after layoffs and will prioritize casual and AI‑focused titles for Luna and other platforms.

Why this matters

New World launched to massive interest in 2021, peaking at nearly a million concurrent Steam players, and still draws tens of thousands of players on weekends. Ending active content development for a still‑popular MMO is a significant change for the community and highlights shifting strategies in the games industry amid cost pressures.

What to watch next

• Further details from Amazon on long‑term hosting plans and any roadmap for future support or legacy services.
• Community reaction and whether third‑party groups or private servers emerge to preserve aspects of New World.
• Amazon’s broader gaming strategy, including continued support for titles it publishes but doesn’t develop (e.g., Throne and Liberty, Lost Ark) and its increasing focus on Luna.

For reporting on the decision and related layoffs, see coverage from major outlets and the publisher’s official blog post.

Discussion: Are you still playing New World — and how does this announcement affect your plans as a player? What would you like Amazon to promise as they wind down development?