New World

At First Glance, New World Doesn’t Seem Different from Other MMORPGs. But It Is.

At first glance, New World doesn’t seem different from so many other MMORPGs out there. But the truth is, Amazon Games’ first MMORPG, released in 2021, boasts a range of unique and super interesting features.

Set on the island of Aeternum, the game blends fantasy themes with historical references to the colonization of countries by European settlers. The result is a complex story, featuring varied gameplay elements and characteristics that make it stand out in the genre.

Understanding the Story of New World

The game’s plot revolves around a magical substance called Azoth. It’s abundant on the island and responsible for a series of environmental changes. Its presence alters the properties of the surroundings, spawns diverse creatures, and grants mysterious powers.

Amidst all this, you play as an explorer from afar who arrives at the island of Aeternum. Initially, your goal is to colonize the place, but your plans quickly change. Your mission becomes surviving, uncovering local mysteries, and fighting against various powerful enemies.

Here’s where New World starts to differentiate itself. It doesn’t have a traditional race or class system. Your character is a regular human. However, they can use a variety of weapons and skills that shape your playstyle. On the other hand, the island’s inhabitants are divided into three main factions:

• Marauders: Militaristic types looking to dominate the land through strength and power.
• Covenant: Members of a religious sect obsessed with eradicating evil.
• Syndicate: A secretive society focused on uncovering Aeternum’s mysteries.

In the middle of this mix, you’ll face a variety of challenges. The good news? The game’s dynamic nature and progressive evolution keep things fresh.

Why Does This Game Stand Out in the MMORPG World?

Nothing in New World is entirely new or revolutionary. But the game combines a series of standout elements in its gameplay, blending genres like strategy, action, and sandbox. The result is a dynamic and unique title that includes features such as:

• An immersive open world with various territories to explore. The game’s environments offer an excellent level of graphical realism, with impressively detailed landscapes, including rich flora and fauna.
• A combat system not tied to races or classes. Instead, it’s built around different weapons, allowing for dynamic and fluid gameplay. You can personalize your fighting style and master various skills.
• A sandbox-style crafting system is another highlight. Alongside numerous gathering resources, the game lets you create and build various items, including weapons, armor, and potions.
• A strong community influence in the game’s progression. Territory control and player interactions are its cornerstones, making PVP and PVE battles highly significant to the game’s unfolding.

That said, there are aspects the community doesn’t love. The most common complaints include a limited endgame, repetitive enemies, excessive grinding, a steep learning curve, and initial technical issues. Given that it’s a paid game, the audience has been quite critical of these factors. But for the vast majority of the community, these issues don’t ruin the overall experience.

New World by the Numbers

The initial hype around New World, fueled by efficient marketing, yielded impressive results. Shortly after launch, its servers recorded a peak of 913,000 concurrent players worldwide.

Additionally, Amazon quickly tallied an impressive 15 million active accounts in the game. However, this impressive momentum lasted only until 2022, when the number of players began to decline.

In the latest data on the game, it’s estimated that 14,600 players are active daily on its servers. Of course, this number is much lower than what was recorded in the game’s early years.

The total number of active accounts has also plateaued. To try and reverse this trend, Amazon has been working hard on improvements and updates since 2023. However, these efforts have only resulted in temporary increases, falling short of the game’s initial numbers.

A Bold Bet for the Future of the Franchise

Recently, in October 2024, Amazon Games released the expansion New World: Aeternum. In addition to bringing various gameplay and balance changes, this new content expanded the game’s story and lore.

The goal is to immerse players deeper into New World’s narrative and enhance combat, exploration, and overall accessibility. Amazon has been attentive to player feedback, aiming to improve everyone’s experience to the fullest.

For now, the company is still far from recapturing the title’s initial popularity. However, thanks to this expansion, New World has managed to rank among the 687 most-played MMORPGs today. That’s a sign they’re on the right track.

What Does the Future Hold for This Franchise?

There’s no denying that, despite its flaws, New World is a standout MMORPG. It quickly became a reference for modern games in the genre. Even without continuous public engagement, it has already fostered a tightly knit community.

Thanks to the Amazon Lumberyard graphics engine, New World offers a distinctive experience in both visuals and environmental exploration. It stands out for going beyond the usual and not just delivering “more of the same.”

On top of that, the game’s narrative is quite engaging, and the expansion promises to make it even more relevant. Combining all these elements, we can expect a promising future for the title. Despite its stumbles, New World remains highly appealing.