This one stings. New World finally felt like it had found its footing again-only for Amazon Games to slam on the brakes. After a rough 2021 launch and years of patching, reworks, and a genuinely better endgame, concurrent players climbed from roughly 17,000 to around 45,000. That resurgence wasn’t imaginary; you could feel it in faster dungeon queues and lively trade posts. And then, almost on cue, Amazon announced layoffs, a pivot toward AI and “party-style” projects, and the end of active development for New World, with servers planned to close in 2026. The timing feels brutal because, for a lot of us, Aeternum was finally worth coming back to.
According to the company’s messaging and coverage in France, a translated post from JVCom summed it up bluntly: “New World is over. Amazon announces more than 30,000 layoffs to accelerate its AI pivot. The MMORPG will no longer add new content and will close its servers in 2026.” Amazon executives have echoed the broader strategy shift. Practically, that means what many MMOs call “maintenance mode”: small patches, stability fixes, maybe seasonal reruns-but no more new zones, dungeons, or systems that meaningfully move the meta.
The gut punch is the context. Player counts were rising, not falling. Recent updates introduced a new region, extended the narrative spine, and rejigged high-level systems to make the climb to 60+ less punishing and the endgame loop more rewarding. It wasn’t perfect, but it was undeniably better.
If you were there at launch, you remember the queues, the exploits, the content droughts, and the awkward economy resets. But beneath that mess was an identity that set New World apart from tab-target peers: action combat without hard lock-ons (save for a healing assist), dodge windows that actually mattered, and a weapons-first, classless build system that encouraged tinkering. Wars were 50v50 chaos that—when servers behaved—felt like MMO-scale Overwatch with siege toys. Outpost Rush offered a more digestible PvP loop when you didn’t want the politics of territory control.
The world of Aeternum carried it. Forests and coves had that painterly Amazon Lumberyard sheen, the lore was more intriguing than it got credit for, and crafting was a genuine pillar, not a side hustle. You didn’t “opt out” of professions if you cared about progression; you learned to cut stones for expedition keys, min-maxed crafting perks, and lived at the smelter. New World kept adding to that fantasy, and in the past year, the rebuild of the endgame loop made logging in feel less like a chore and more like an RPG again.
We’ve seen live services rebound only to be sunset anyway: think Marvel’s Avengers or the permanent purgatory of Anthem. The lesson is uncomfortable—fun doesn’t guarantee funding. New World’s ramp back to ~45k concurrents is impressive for a four-year-old MMO, but it’s not a juggernaut. For a company chasing AI platforms and “scalable” experiences, the math looks different than it does to players who just rediscovered their perfect Great Axe build.
Amazon’s PC portfolio has been turbulent. Crucible was launched, unreleased, and canceled. Lost Ark thrives in the West—but Amazon publishes; Smilegate runs the core. New World was Amazon’s fully-owned shot at a long-term live service. Pulling support right as it stabilizes undercuts goodwill and reinforces that creeping player instinct: don’t invest in live-service grinds unless the studio proves it’s in for the long haul. Right now, the industry is saying the quiet part out loud—AI bets and broader platform plays outrank tending a mid-tier MMO with a loyal base.
If you’re still in Aeternum, set finite goals. Knock out the expeditions you’ve been putting off, finish your best-in-slot crafts, and dive into PvP while queues remain healthy. Personally, I’m revisiting my spear/musket hybrid and ticking off the story beats I skipped. Just be cautious about big real-money spends on cosmetics moving forward—without new content arcs coming, that drip will feel hollow fast.
This caught my attention because New World finally felt like the action-first MMO some of us wanted in 2021. Amazon’s call tracks with today’s corporate priorities, but it ignores a truth about MMOs: momentum is fragile and earned slowly. Killing the climb mid-ascent tells players to think twice before believing in a comeback story. That’s bad for Aeternum—and worse for the genre’s social fabric, where trust is the only currency that outlasts the meta.
New World was on a genuine upswing—then Amazon ended active development and plans to shut servers in 2026 as it pivots toward AI and lighter projects. Enjoy what’s there, avoid heavy spending, and watch for clarity on merges, events, and any end-of-life support. It’s a harsh reminder: in live service land, fun and progress don’t always beat the spreadsheet.
Get access to exclusive strategies, hidden tips, and pro-level insights that we don't share publicly.
Ultimate Gaming Strategy Guide + Weekly Pro Tips