Amazon Games has confirmed that New World, its once‑ambitious MMORPG, will go dark on January 31, 2027, giving players just one final year in Aeternum before the servers shut down permanently. The announcement marks the end of a turbulent five‑year run for the MMO, which launched in 2021 to massive hype and record‑breaking Steam numbers before rapidly losing momentum.
But in an unexpected twist, a prominent figure in the survival‑game world has stepped forward with a bold proposal: buy New World outright and keep it alive.
🛑 Amazon Confirms Shutdown and Delisting
Amazon revealed that New World has already been delisted from all digital storefronts, meaning no new players can purchase the game. Existing owners can continue playing through the extended Nighthaven season until the shutdown date.
In a farewell message, the New World team thanked players for their dedication and acknowledged the emotional weight of sunsetting a live MMO:
“Together we built something special… We look forward to one more year together, and giving this fantastic adventure a sendoff worthy of a legendary hero.”
💥 Facepunch Studios Steps In With a $25 Million Offer
Shortly after the shutdown announcement, Alistair McFarlane, COO of Facepunch Studios — the team behind Rust — publicly offered $25 million to acquire New World from Amazon.
McFarlane’s message was simple and direct:
“Games should never die.”
While the tone of the offer carried a hint of cheekiness, McFarlane emphasized that he was serious about preserving the MMO rather than letting it disappear into the void of abandoned online worlds.
🤝 Support From Other Developers
McFarlane wasn’t alone. Simon Collins‑Laflamme, known for acquiring and reviving Hytale after its cancellation, publicly offered assistance and advice on resurrecting shuttered games.
This unexpected show of solidarity from other studios highlights a growing sentiment in the industry: online games deserve preservation, not deletion.
📉 A Rise and Fall That Still Stings
When New World launched in 2021, it became one of Steam’s biggest success stories, peaking at nearly 1 million concurrent players. But the game struggled to retain its audience due to content gaps, technical issues, and shifting design priorities.
Even a major rebrand to New World: Aeternum and free expansions couldn’t reverse the decline.
Amazon halted new development in late 2025, signaling the beginning of the end.
🔮 Could New World Actually Be Saved?
Realistically, Amazon has not responded to McFarlane’s offer, and there’s no indication the company is interested in selling the IP. Large corporations rarely part with major game properties, even dormant ones.
Still, the public nature of the offer — and the community’s reaction — has sparked a broader conversation about MMO preservation and the ethics of shutting down online worlds.
🎮 One Year Left in Aeternum
For now, players have 12 months to revisit their characters, finish their adventures, and say goodbye to a world that once promised to redefine the MMO genre.
Whether New World finds a second life under new ownership or fades into history remains to be seen — but the message from the Rust team is clear:
Some worlds are worth saving.
