Amazon's MMO Effort Winding Down Amid Mass Layoffs
A major shift is underway at Amazon Games as the company winds down support for its popular massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, New World. The news comes on the heels of a wave of layoffs across the parent company, with Amazon Games being one of the hardest hit divisions.
New World, launched in 2021, had drawn significant attention and attracted millions of players worldwide. Despite this success, the game's future is now uncertain as Amazon has announced that it will no longer be supported with new content updates. The recently released Season 10 and Nighthaven update will serve as the final release for New World on PC and consoles.
Players can still purchase the game and enjoy it until further notice, and a free expansion, Nighthaven, is currently available to everyone. However, the fate of New World remains uncertain, with Amazon promising to provide more details about its future in the coming months.
Amazon's decision to scale back support for MMOs like New World marks a significant shift in focus for the company. The division had initially been expected to be a key player in Amazon's gaming efforts, but it appears that this is no longer the case. Instead, attention will be shifted towards other genres and platforms, such as Luna, the cloud service recently overhauled by Amazon.
The news comes after widespread layoffs across the parent company, with many staff members being let go. A former Amazon senior gameplay engineer reportedly lost their job alongside colleagues working on New World and a Lord of the Rings MMO that was in development.
Amazon Games vice president Christoph Hartmann had previously hinted that the division was shifting its focus away from MMOs towards other genres, citing a desire to evolve beyond this type of game. This decision now seems to be in full swing, with New World being one of the first major casualties.
A major shift is underway at Amazon Games as the company winds down support for its popular massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, New World. The news comes on the heels of a wave of layoffs across the parent company, with Amazon Games being one of the hardest hit divisions.
New World, launched in 2021, had drawn significant attention and attracted millions of players worldwide. Despite this success, the game's future is now uncertain as Amazon has announced that it will no longer be supported with new content updates. The recently released Season 10 and Nighthaven update will serve as the final release for New World on PC and consoles.
Players can still purchase the game and enjoy it until further notice, and a free expansion, Nighthaven, is currently available to everyone. However, the fate of New World remains uncertain, with Amazon promising to provide more details about its future in the coming months.
Amazon's decision to scale back support for MMOs like New World marks a significant shift in focus for the company. The division had initially been expected to be a key player in Amazon's gaming efforts, but it appears that this is no longer the case. Instead, attention will be shifted towards other genres and platforms, such as Luna, the cloud service recently overhauled by Amazon.
The news comes after widespread layoffs across the parent company, with many staff members being let go. A former Amazon senior gameplay engineer reportedly lost their job alongside colleagues working on New World and a Lord of the Rings MMO that was in development.
Amazon Games vice president Christoph Hartmann had previously hinted that the division was shifting its focus away from MMOs towards other genres, citing a desire to evolve beyond this type of game. This decision now seems to be in full swing, with New World being one of the first major casualties.