According to reporting by Insider Gaming and other outlets, the MMORPG New World: Aeternum (often referred to simply as New World), developed by Amazon Games, will cease further content development. The game will conclude major updates with Season 10 and the upcoming “Nighthaven” update.
Originally released on PC in 2021 and later on consoles in 2024.
Announcement of Final Update
In an official statement, Amazon Games declared:
“After four years of continuous content updates and the major release of the console version, we have reached a point where we cannot sustainably deliver new content support. The recently launched Season 10 and the Nighthaven update will be the final content update for New World on PC and console. After careful consideration, we have made this decision.”
This marks the end of the title’s roadmap for new content, signalling a shift from growth and expansion to a maintenance phase.
Timeline & Background
- New World launched for PC on September 28, 2021.
- The game expanded to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2024.
- Over its lifespan, the game received multiple seasons, expansions and updates.
Link to Amazon Games Layoffs & Strategic Shift
Notably, this decision appears to coincide with major internal changes at Amazon’s gaming division. According to coverage by The Verge, Amazon announced large-scale layoffs impacting its first-party MMO teams and signalled a move away from heavy investment in AAA MMOs.
This suggests the termination of new content may stem not purely from game-performance metrics, but also from broader corporate strategy and resource realignment.
Did Amazon Develop New World?
Yes — Amazon Games developed New World. Specifically, the game was developed by the subsidiary studio Amazon Games Orange County and published by Amazon Games.
What MMORPG Did Amazon Make?
Amazon Games has been involved in the creation and publishing of MMORPGs. Among them:
- New World: Aeternum — developed by Amazon Games Orange County.
- Throne and Liberty — an action-MMO developed by NCSoft, globally published by Amazon Games in some regions.
Why Did Amazon Cancel the Lord of the Rings MMO?
The planned MMO based on The Lord of the Rings property was cancelled. According to Amazon Games’ president Christoph Hartmann, the cancellation resulted primarily from contract complications due to the acquisition of the developer (Leyou) by Tencent in 2020.
What Is the #1 MMO Right Now?
Determining the “#1” MMO depends on metrics (active players, engagement, revenue). According to MMO-Population data and other ranking sites, the titles vary. For example, the site lists current population leaderboards for MMO games.
As of late 2025, some of the top MMOs by active population include major franchises (though no single game stands clearly above all in every metric). For many lists, classics like Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and newer free-to-play titles appear in top rankings.
Impact for Players and Community
- While the game is not announced for server shutdown (as of current publicly-known info), the “final update” status means no new major expansions or seasons will follow beyond Season 10 and Nighthaven.
- Players investing in long-term content hopes must now consider this as a legacy product rather than a growing live-service.
- Community activity, end-game support and developer investment may decline — while maintenance patches might continue, fresh content simply will not.
- Upcoming Season 10 & Nighthaven may serve as the “closing chapter” of the game’s grand narrative and mechanics — a last high-point for engagement.
What It Means for the MMO Market & Amazon Games
This announcement underscores the risk and cost of sustaining live-service MMOs — especially those backed by large budgets and high expectations. It also signals a strategic pivot at Amazon Games: rather than continuing to chase multiple large MMOs, the division appears to be rationalising its pipeline and focusing on different game types.
For New World, the decision to halt content growth means repositioning the game as a completed product rather than one with open-ended evolution — a model more akin to “maintenance mode” than expansion.
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