New World
News, coverage and analysis tracking New World across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Amazon has cancelled The Lord of the Rings MMO, but promises it "continues to explore a compelling new game experience" set in Middle-earth
Amazon has cancelled its previously announced Lord of the Rings MMO, though the company states it is still exploring a new game experience set in Middle-earth. The MMO, a partnership between Amazon Game Studios and Embracer Group, had been in early development and faced numerous setbacks including layoffs and a shift in company focus. While the MMO is officially shelved, Amazon remains committed to the intellectual property.
Amazon pressured one of its teams to develop an AI game, they scrambled to make it work - then got laid off anyway
Developers at Amazon Game Studios were laid off in October 2025, following a company-wide push to integrate generative AI into game development. Project Trident, an AI-powered third-person action game, was cancelled despite internal promise and adherence to the AI mandate. The layoffs affected multiple teams, including those working on New World and The Lord of the Rings MMO, as Amazon shifted its strategy away from big-budget internal development.
Amazon Still Eyeing A Lord Of The Rings Game After Reported MMO Cancellation
Amazon Games is still pursuing a new The Lord of the Rings game, despite multiple MMORPG projects being canceled. The company's latest attempt at a Lord of the Rings MMO, in partnership with Embracer, was reportedly canceled in 2025 amid layoffs. Amazon previously partnered with Leyou for another Lord of the Rings MMO that was canceled in 2021.
Amazon Games is Exploring How to Make The Lord of the Rings Into a “New Game Experience”
Amazon Games is exploring new ways to create a "new game experience" based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings IP, despite recent cutbacks and the reported cancellation of an MMORPG. Head of games Jeff Grattis stated the team is working closely with the IP to do it justice. The company also confirmed its publishing agreement for the upcoming Tomb Raider games with Crystal Dynamics.
Loving MMOs in 2026 is an exercise in frustration, grief, and moving on
The current state of MMORPGs in 2026 is frustrating due to a lack of new titles and constant changes to existing ones, leaving players reliant on older games. This situation is attributed to the conflict between the long development cycles of MMOs and the short-term profit demands of shareholders, leading to cancellations and instability within the genre.
MMO Week in Review: Evercold, Aion 2, and EQ Legends
This week in the MMORPG genre saw the reveal of Final Fantasy XIV's 'Evercold' expansion for January 2027, alongside confirmations for Aion 2's global launch this year. Several other titles like Embers of the Uncrowned, RF Online Next, Palia, EverQuest Legends, and Loftia also had significant updates or beta launches.
A Surprising 17-Years-Later Sequel Is Coming West This Year
NCSoft announced that Aion 2, a sequel to the 2008 MMORPG, will receive a global release on PC via Steam later this year. The game, built on Unreal Engine 5, faced criticism for its microtransactions upon its South Korean and Taiwanese launch. NCSoft has apologized and vowed to make changes for the international release, with more details expected in May.
New World doubles experience rates and lets remaining players buy five houses a pop
Amazon has implemented several updates for its MMORPG New World, including permanently doubling experience rates and increasing the number of purchasable houses to five per player. The update also raises the gold cap, removes a main story quest requirement for a specific zone, and increases the umbral crystal farming limit.
Recent Ashes of Creation court filings reveal Riot tried to purchase Intrepid for $250 million
Recent court filings reveal that Riot Games explored acquiring Intrepid Studios, the developer of Ashes of Creation, for $250-500 million in 2022. At the time, Riot was heavily invested in its own MMORPG projects, including Hytale and a separate internal MMO, amidst a period of high player interest in the genre following the performance of games like New World and Lost Ark.
Windrose might have cemented its place among standout indie survival games with a jolly opening day, matey
The pirate survival game Windrose has achieved a strong start in its early access launch on Steam, surpassing its demo's player count with nearly 70,000 concurrent players. The game's survival and RPG elements, combined with its popular pirate theme, have drawn in players and streamers. While unlikely to match Palworld's record-breaking numbers, Windrose is positioned as a standout indie survival title, with potential for future console ports.
WRUP: You gonna cry edition
The Massively OP staff discusses their weekend gaming plans, with mentions of Guild Wars Reforged, Lord of the Rings Online, Warframe, Final Fantasy XIV, Throne and Liberty, World of Warcraft, and New World. A bonus question prompts readers to share the dumbest thing they've done to win a low-stakes challenge.
Rust 2? "Nope," Dev Says After Weird Steam Page Goes Up
Facepunch Studios has denied any involvement with a "Rust 2" Steam page that recently appeared, with studio head Garry Newman stating they are not making a sequel. The page has been flagged as suspicious by SteamDB, and another Facepunch developer confirmed it is fake. Newman previously commented on a potential "Rust 2" not using the Unity engine, and the studio also recently made headlines regarding the potential purchase of New World.
The Daily Grind: Do you appreciate a long maintenance mode before an MMORPG sunset?
This opinion piece discusses the sentiment surrounding the long maintenance mode of MMORPGs before their eventual sunset. The author expresses gratitude for Amazon keeping New World online for its remaining players, questioning the urge some have to demand immediate shutdowns once they are personally finished with a game.
Well Fed: If MMORPGs were actually candy…
This article humorously compares various MMORPGs to different types of candy, exploring their unique characteristics and player experiences. Games like Final Fantasy XIV are likened to complex UK chocolate bars, while Elder Scrolls Online is compared to steady gummy bears, and World of Warcraft to the distinct sour gummy worms.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 560: EverQuest Legends never die
The Massively OP Podcast episode 560 covers the announcement of EverQuest Legends, Camelot Unchained's early access, and the cancellation of New World's 10-year plan. It also touches on Loftia's closed beta, V Rising entering maintenance mode, and the sunsetting of Elder Scrolls Blades.
MMO Week in Review: EverQuest’s legacy, Camelot out of chains
This week's MMO news includes Daybreak's announcement of EverQuest Legacy, a spinoff of the classic game, and the surprise early access launch of Camelot Unchained after eight years in beta. Several other MMOs received updates, including V Rising, New World, and EverQuest II, while Epic Games faced significant layoffs due to overspending and a slump in Fortnite's performance.
WRUP: Presenting the 36th Annual Summer of Butts edition
This weekly roundup features Massively OP staff and community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Marvel Heroes, Monster Hunter Wilds, Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and several other MMORPGs and games. The article also includes a bonus question about favorite flowers.
Former New World world designer dishes on Amazon’s abandoned 10-year plan for Aeternum
Former New World lead world designer David McKenzie revealed details about Amazon's abandoned 10-year plan for the MMORPG. The plans included new zones themed around Southeast Asia, Japan, and Vikings, as well as new weapons and PvP modes. McKenzie also discussed the controversial decision to use AI for voice acting due to budget cuts and the developers' eventual realization of the game's impending maintenance mode.
New World’s March update opens region transfers and mass-unlocks tmog ‘fits this afternoon
New World's March update introduces region transfers and several new features, including unlocking all transmog appearances and increasing gear sets to 30. The update also adjusts the AFK timer, modifies PvP queue requirements, and boosts soulmark drop rates. Server downtime is scheduled for today to implement these changes.
Massively Overthinking: The nine games portrait of you
This article features Massively OP staff members sharing their personal lists of nine core video games that have shaped them. Contributors discuss foundational titles, franchise representations, and personal favorites across various genres, including MMOs, JRPGs, and action RPGs, reflecting on their impact on their gaming identities and creative work.