Amazon winds down support for New World amid layoffs — Season 10/Nighthaven is final update; servers stay online through 2026

Amazon Games announced it will stop producing new content for New World: Aeternum. The recently launched Season 10 and the Nighthaven expansion will be the game’s final content release, though the studio says it will keep servers running through 2026 to give players time to continue their adventures.

The decision comes amid widescale layoffs at Amazon and cuts within Amazon Games. The company said maintaining ongoing large‑scale content development for the MMO is no longer sustainable. As a goodwill gesture, the Nighthaven expansion is being made free to all players this month, and the game remains available for purchase and on PlayStation Plus (Extra and Premium) “until further notice.”

Key facts

• Final content: Season 10 / Nighthaven is the last planned content update for New World.
• Servers: Amazon will keep servers online through 2026 and promises at least six months’ notice before changes that affect playability.
• Layoffs & focus shift: Amazon is reducing investment in big‑budget MMOs and shifting toward Luna, cloud offerings and “casual and AI‑focused games.”
• Other projects: Status of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO is unclear; reports suggest it may have been impacted by cuts.

What this means for players

Players can continue to buy and play New World for now, and the free Nighthaven expansion gives the community fresh content to enjoy. However, the end of new content means the game will gradually stop evolving, which may reduce long‑term engagement for some. The promise to keep servers running through 2026 offers a transition window for guilds and communities to plan.

Industry context

Amazon’s pullback reflects broader challenges in sustaining large online games and the rising costs of MMO development. The company plans to prioritize the Luna cloud platform and smaller, AI‑driven or casual titles — a pivot that mirrors changing risk appetites after previous high‑profile setbacks in Amazon’s gaming slate.

What to watch next

• Official timelines detailing when specific game services (updates, store sales, on‑platform availability) may change.
• Clarification on the fate of the Lord of the Rings MMO and other in‑development projects affected by the layoffs.
• Community reactions: servers, trading economy and player counts in the months ahead.

For the original reporting and further details, see the full coverage: Engadget: Amazon winds down New World.

Discussion: Are you disappointed Amazon’s still‑popular New World is no longer receiving new content — or relieved the servers will remain online for now? How should companies support MMO communities when they scale back development?