Amazon's Shift Away From Story-Driven Games
Amazon shuts down New World to focus on AI-powered casual games, raising concerns about a growing trend toward cash grab titles in the gaming industry.
Amazon Games has confirmed that New World, its ambitious MMORPG, will officially shut down in 2026, following a turbulent year of layoffs and restructuring that impacted more than 14,000 Amazon employees.
The company's pivot toward AI-driven casual games has many players asking if this is the start of a worrying trend for the gaming industry. For fans who have invested hundreds of hours into Aeternum's supernatural world, the shutdown feels less like the natural end of a game and more like a retreat from meaningful storytelling.
Amazon's new strategy seems focused on fast, monetizable titles powered by generative AI, a move that could reshape how major studios approach game design.
When New World launched in 2021, it represented Amazon's most serious attempt to compete in the MMO space.
Author's summary: Amazon shuts down New World, shifting focus to AI-powered games.