Amazon Games has announced that New World, its MMORPG first released in 2021, will shut down on the 31st January 2027. This comes a few months after the developer “gutted” a vast number of staff late last year.
When those cuts were first announced, it was revealed on the New World website that its 10th season ‘Nighthaven’ would be its last. Now, it turns out that season will be extended until the servers are shut down. The game has been pulled from storefronts, so only those who already own the game can continue playing into next year.
The statement also features a farewell from the remaining New World team, which reads: “We want to thank the players for your dedication and passion. We are grateful for the time spent crafting the world of Aeternum with you. Together we built something special. While we are saddened to say goodbye, we’re honored that we were able to share so much with the community.
“It has been our pleasure to work on New World: Aeternum and evolve this unforgettable adventure with you all. We look forward to one more year together, and giving this fantastic adventure a sendoff worthy of a legendary hero. From the bottom of all our hearts, thank you for sharing this world with us.”
In response to this news however, a potential sprinkle of hope from COO of Facepunch Alistair McFarlane. Known as the studio behind Rust, the UK-based developer has built itself a solid foundation in the tumultuous games industry. Solid enough, it seems, to allow McFarlane to offer an eye-watering amount for the ill-fated MMO.
“25m, final offer” McFarlane posted on Twitter in response to the news last night. He’d follow this up with “Games should never die”, indicating this to be a genuine offer (Eurogamer has contacted Facepunch to confirm).
Another noteworthy figure in the world of buying video game rights also popped their head up, with Simon Collins-Laflamme of Hypixel Games writing: “If you need tips about buying cancelled games, lmk”. Laflamme bought Hytale back from Riot Games last year, releasing it this week to monumental success.
