In a surprising turn of events, the director behind Rust has proposed a staggering $25 million to Amazon, aiming to rescue its struggling massively multiplayer online game (MMO), New World, from an impending shutdown. Just this week, Amazon Game Studios revealed plans to take New World offline, with servers scheduled to go dark at the end of January next year. In addition, the game has been removed from all platforms, meaning it can no longer be purchased by new players.
At its launch, New World was a major success, nearly reaching 1 million concurrent users on Steam. However, the game's popularity quickly dwindled due to unengaging quests and a lackluster endgame experience, leading to a steep decline in its player base that it ultimately failed to recover from. Now, as the game faces extinction, one prominent developer is stepping up with hopes to salvage it.
Alistair McFarlane, the creative mind behind one of the most acclaimed survival games ever made, has extended his hand in support. His proposal has not gone unnoticed; other game developers have taken to social media to react. For instance, Bucky, the communications director for Palworld, humorously suggested he would chip in if they could release the original alpha version of New World as a unique game mode. McFarlane responded with enthusiasm, indicating he’s open to creative ideas.
Furthermore, Simon Collins-Laflamme, the visionary behind the highly anticipated sandbox RPG Hytale, which recently launched in Early Access, also chimed in. He offered his expertise, playfully commenting, "If you need tips about buying cancelled games, let me know." Collins-Laflamme's journey is particularly noteworthy; his team, Hypixel Studios, was acquired by Riot Games in 2020, but after Riot canceled Hytale and closed Hypixel last year, he managed to reclaim the project and successfully released it shortly after.
Whether or not McFarlane’s ambitious $25 million offer will lead to any fruitful outcome remains to be seen. It’s worth noting that despite New World's considerable issues, it did foster a dedicated community and boasted many positive attributes. Players appreciated its stunning visuals, enjoyable gameplay mechanics, and thrilling large-scale 50v50 player-versus-player battles.
However, in a lighthearted twist, McFarlane shared that the only communication he has received from Amazon since his proposal was an update regarding his snack order. He jokingly tweeted, "I have good news! I have received an update from Amazon, following my offer to buy New World. They're delivering my order of beef jerky tomorrow."
What do you think? Are you rooting for New World to be saved from its imminent closure? Do you believe McFarlane's offer is more of a light-hearted jest, or might he actually pursue this opportunity if Amazon shows interest? We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments below!
