Amazon Games has announced a wave of “significant” layoffs today, coinciding with the broader reduction of 14,000 jobs across the company. This move reflects not only the economic climate but also “strategic changes” within the organization. A pivotal aspect of this strategy includes the challenging decision to cease a considerable portion of its first-party AAA game development, particularly in the realm of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games.
New World: Aeternum Faces Uncertain Future
Among the titles affected is the MMO New World: Aeternum, which will no longer receive content updates and may be entirely phased out by the end of 2026. In a recent update, the company stated, “After four years of steady content updates and a major new console release, we’ve reached a point where it is no longer sustainable to continue supporting the game with new content updates.” Despite fluctuations in player engagement, peaking at 50,000 to 60,000 players, the challenge has been maintaining that interest over time.
While New World: Aeternum will still be available for purchase, and players can continue to buy in-game currency, the rationale behind investing in a game with an uncertain future raises questions. The ticking clock on the game’s viability looms large, as Amazon has committed to keeping the servers operational only through 2026. The company has assured players that it will “continue to keep the game running smoothly” through necessary bug fixes and server merges, alongside maintaining “world bosses, bonus weeks, and some seasonal events.” However, the absence of new content may lead to a dwindling player base.
As the community continues to engage with the game, the question remains: why invest in an MMO that lacks a clear path forward? Amazon has promised to provide more details on the eventual shutdown process in the coming months, assuring players that they will receive a minimum of six months’ notice before any changes that could affect gameplay are implemented.
