Today we’re talking about Amazon Games’ first big hit. It’s an MMORPG from 2021 set on the mystical island of Aeternum, inspired by colonial aesthetics. If you’re still wondering which game we’re referring to—it’s New World: Aeternum.

Summary

New World combines survival, action, crafting, faction wars, and professions. In 2024, the game was relaunched for PC & console as New World: Aeternum, bringing a refined combat system, improved story, and crossplay support.

The Origin of New World – Amazon’s Ambitious MMO Dream

New World was developed by Amazon Games Orange County using the in-house Lumberyard Engine. The game was first announced in 2021 at TwitchCon and, after a delay, officially released on PC on September 28, 2021. It was originally planned for May 2020, but the pandemic caused delays. The PS5 and Xbox Series versions followed in October 2024 with the launch of New World: Aeternum.

At its reveal, PvP was the central aspect of the game. Territory wars, open-world PvP, and faction conflicts were at the core. The story and lore initially played a minor role, while exploration, conflict, and life simulation (professions) took center stage. Players gathered resources to craft and sell goods, supported by a trading system and crafting professions from day one. The setting takes place in a fictional colonial world on the island of Aeternum, where mystical powers (Azoth) play a key role. Since launch, the game also featured housing as a long-term motivation tool, allowing creative expression for players.

Closed betas and testing phases were used early on to gather feedback on PvP mechanics, balance, and performance. This led to improvements in combat, weapon balancing, and resource systems. As one of Amazon’s first major AAA gaming projects, expectations were very high.

The Development Story – From PvP Disaster to Rebirth

The first beta phases began in 2020 and received heavy criticism for griefing, forced PvP, and empty-feeling areas lacking sufficient PvE content. It suffered from a weak story, repetitive gameplay, and very few non-PvP activities. On top of that, there were technical problems such as poor performance, exploits, and unstable servers. However, these playtests had a huge impact.

Before launch, many elements were redesigned, including expanded storylines, quests, and PvE content. PvP was also improved and rebalanced, alongside new mechanics, system tweaks, and balance adjustments.

The game launched with record numbers, reaching over 700,000 concurrent players on Steam at release. However, it also faced massive queues and capacity issues. Soon after launch, the player base declined significantly due to bugs, grind-heavy systems, unbalanced mechanics, and server issues. Quest repetition and a lack of endgame motivation were also common complaints.

Amazon responded proactively. Amazon Games began rolling out major content updates, quality improvements, and stability patches. To combat server fragmentation and low population, many worlds were merged over time. Seasonal events and new content drops were introduced to attract players back—with moderate success.

By 2025, the franchise saw a major revival with New World: Aeternum. Aeternum marked a full relaunch featuring technical upgrades, new content, and expanded platform support. The world was redesigned, combat refined, and crossplay systems introduced. With Season of the Banner in 2025, a new 3v3 PvP mode was also added.

The World of Aeternum – Secrets of a Cursed Island

New World takes place on the mystical island of Aeternum. This island is surrounded by a magical storm (“Stormwall”) that isolates it from the outside world. There are many stories about lost cultures, the ruins of the “Ancients,” and mysterious structures to discover. One of the key resources in the game and on the island is Azoth. This Azoth grants life, regeneration, magic, and allows fast travel, but it also has a darker side. Its power can corrupt and creates Corrupted enemies. It’s suggested that the misuse of Azoth’s power was one of the causes of Aeternum’s downfall.

In New World, there are three playable factions (Marauders, Syndicate, Covenant). They compete for influence, territory, and control over resources.

• Marauders seek power through strength and military rule.
• Syndicate relies on cunning, knowledge, and secrecy.
• Covenant represents a spiritual order that aims to “cleanse” the island and fight corruption.
• Meanwhile, there’s the Corruption as a hostile force that invades regions and clashes with the factions.
• You’ll also encounter enemy groups like The Lost (tormented souls / undead) and Angry Earth (nature’s defenders), adding depth to Aeternum’s lore.

The factions wage war over territories: cities, forts, and regions can be conquered and held. In return, factions earn taxes and trading fees. The Corruption can infest and mutate regions, forcing players to reclaim or cleanse them. Throughout the world, the environment tells its own story.

Across the island, you’ll find clues about Aeternum’s history, the role of the Ancients, the origin of corruption, and the connections between the factions. Through the “Tales of Aeternum” lore video series, players can explore the stories of nature spirits, the island’s thriving powers, and much more.

Gameplay & Combat System – Action, Factions, and Freedom

Let’s talk a bit about the gameplay. Combat happens in real time — you can’t lock onto enemies and must dodge, block, and position yourself manually. With the Season of the Guardian update, the combat system and animations were overhauled. You can choose from many different weapon classes such as swords, spears, axes, war hammers, bows, muskets, magic staffs, and more. Mechanics like headshots in ranged combat and backstabs in melee grant bonus damage.

You don’t choose a fixed class at the beginning; instead, you specialize through the Weapon Mastery system. You can invest attribute points into different stats to strengthen your weapons and improve other abilities. Additionally, you can unlock multiple skills per weapon, allowing for greater customization and power.

You can join one of the three factions – Marauders, Syndicate, or Covenant. These factions compete for control over settlements and territories. The PvP wars (50 vs 50 players) are major events where factions fight for cities and influence.

If PvP isn’t your thing, there are plenty of PvE missions or small-group dungeon raids to enjoy. You can also gather resources, craft materials, and create equipment. This gear can be enchanted with Azoth to make it even more powerful. You can also trade items on the marketplace or purchase what you need. Eventually, you can even buy a house and decorate it freely.

The New World: Aeternum Updates – A Complete Relaunch

In 2024, New World: Aeternum launched as a full relaunch of the game. It was released for the first time on PS5 and Xbox Series with full crossplay support. However, there’s no cross-progression, meaning your characters remain tied to the platform they were created on. The UI was optimized for consoles and standardized across platforms.

The relaunch also brought a stronger narrative focus with new dialogues, in-game cinematics, and story scenes. The introductory experience was revamped to better guide new players. With a more coherent leveling and quest structure, the gameplay feels smoother and progression more rewarding. A new progression system called Archetypes was also added — these suggest playstyle builds but still allow flexibility.

The combat system was further refined with smoother animations, more precise hit detection, and reworked boss fights. Enemies are now smarter, and combat mechanics depend more on timing and positioning. Dungeon matchmaking was improved to lower entry barriers, and new endgame content like 10-player raids and solo trials was introduced.

Through Aeternum, new zones were introduced, including special PvP areas like the Cursed Mists Zone. The gear score cap was increased, and additional equipment options and artifacts were added to deepen endgame strategies. All content from previous expansions was also integrated so that no progress was lost.

The Endgame – Expeditions, Mutations, and PvP Battles

Once you’ve reached the endgame in New World: Aeternum, there’s plenty of content waiting for you. Expeditions (raids) feature mutations as endgame variants that rotate weekly. These come with special modifiers such as elemental effects or curses. There are three mutation tiers: M1 (Intermediate), M2 (Hard), and M3 (Elite).

Each level becomes increasingly difficult and offers better rewards. To participate in a mutation, you must first complete the standard version of the expedition. At the end, you’ll receive a rank (Bronze, Silver, Gold) based on time, kills, and takedowns, which determines the mutation level you can access. Rewards include rare loot, materials, and high-tier gear. You can complete up to 35 mutated expeditions per week.

Besides expeditions and mutations, crafting plays a crucial role in the endgame. You’ll gather rare resources to craft legendary gear, artifacts, and equipment sets with special perks. Your gear score is also vital for dungeons, as without sufficient level you’d take excessive damage.

At level 60, the Outpost Rush 20 vs 20 PvPvE mode unlocks. The goal is to capture outposts and earn points. Points are awarded for holding territories. Your team can gather resources, defend or upgrade structures, and close corrupted portals to summon powerful allies. There’s also a boss, and if you defeat it, the enemy team can’t earn points for a limited time. Rewards include coins, Azoth, and equipment loot chests.

The faction system remains important even in the endgame. Controlling territories provides influence over taxes and geopolitical significance. Faction wars are a major highlight. So, in the endgame, it’s not just about reaching max level but also about optimizing gear, choosing perks wisely, and fine-tuning your builds.

The Community & the Fresh Start – Regaining Trust

After the 2021 launch and its initial hype, the player count dropped significantly. Many left due to bugs, grind, unstable servers, and a lack of in-game content. There were also player accusations that some of Amazon’s promises weren’t kept.

With the relaunch as New World: Aeternum, Amazon aimed to bring veterans back while attracting new players through improved onboarding, crossplay, and narrative enhancements. Nothing was lost—only gained—with this update. Most notably, PC, PS5, and Xbox players can now play together, opening the door to a broader and more vibrant community.

Players agree that the game has greatly improved since Aeternum. It has been praised for its revamped combat system, and the tutorial and quest design are much better. The player count rose again after Aeternum, though naturally dropped a few months later as things stabilized.

Conclusion – A Second Chance for Amazon’s MMO

New World: Aeternum proves that a rough start doesn’t have to be the end of a game. What began in 2021 as an ambitious but flawed MMO project has, by 2024/2025, become a more polished, accessible, and technically refined experience. The relaunch introduced fresh content, reworked systems, and most importantly, a new identity for the game: less frustration, more adventure, more freedom.

With crossplay, improved combat, a refined story, and new endgame content, Amazon Games has achieved a credible comeback. Aeternum now feels livelier, more structured, and more rewarding—both for new players and returning veterans. Of course, challenges remain: maintaining long-term engagement and player retention will be key to keeping the game relevant for years to come.

In short, New World: Aeternum is a second chance worth taking—for both Amazon as a developer and for everyone seeking a visually stunning MMO filled with action, depth, and craftsmanship.

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