Amazon’s Shift Away From Story-Driven Games
Amazon Games has confirmed that New World, its ambitious MMORPG, will officially shut down in 2026. The news followed a turbulent year of layoffs and restructuring that impacted more than 14,000 Amazon employees. With the company pivoting toward AI-driven casual games, many players are asking the same question: Is this 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.
Lonely at the tavern
The Rise and Fall of New World
When New World launched in 2021, it represented Amazon’s most serious attempt to compete in the MMO space. The studio promised large-scale PvP warfare, player-run economies, and a living, evolving world filled with crafting and conquest. For a time, it delivered on that promise. Millions of players logged in during launch week, and servers overflowed with hopeful adventurers.
The game’s initial success, however, quickly met technical issues and balance problems. Still, Amazon pushed through, refining systems, adding content, and eventually releasing New World: Rise of the Angry Earth, its final major expansion. A 2024 console release gave the game a second life, expanding its reach beyond PC players.
By late 2025, though, it became clear that the MMO’s golden era had passed. Developers announced that Season 10 and the Nighthaven update would be the last new content for the game. In New World’s farewell message, the team admitted that it was “no longer sustainable to continue supporting the game with new content updates.”
As a farewell gesture, Amazon made all existing expansions free for everyone. Servers will remain active until 2026, but no further development is planned. It’s a bittersweet ending for what was once seen as a flagship project meant to put Amazon Games on the map.
Layoffs and the Strategic Pivot
The shutdown of New World isn’t an isolated event—it’s part of a much larger shift within Amazon. The company’s Irvine studio, which led New World’s development, was heavily impacted by layoffs. Other unannounced projects were also canceled or frozen. In addition, creators in the Amazon Game Studio’s Creators Program also received an email letting them know that Amazon is also scaling back on their Creator Program.
Dear Amazon Game Studios Creator,
We want to inform you about an important change to our Creator Program. Effective today, the current Creator Program as you know it is winding down. We value your participation and contributions you've made to our communities across New World, Lost Ark, Throne and Liberty, and King of Meat. While this program is concluding, we are exploring exciting possibilities, so please be sure to sign up for Amazon Games iD to stay connected and be among the first to know about any updates or new opportunities.
Through Amazon Games iD, you'll have access to:
• Future creator opportunities
• Game updates and news across all Amazon Game Studios titles
• Information about Twitch drops and special creator events
• Community announcements
To ensure you don't miss any communication:
1. Create or sign into your Amazon Games ID here:
2. Update your preferences and check the box to opt-into email communication
We appreciate your understanding and continued support of Amazon Game Studios. If you have any questions, please contact: creatorprogram@amazon.com.
Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating e-mail account is not monitored.
Data & Privacy: All information associated with the Creator Program will be permanently and securely deleted by November 30, 2025, except where limited retention is required for legal or regulatory purposes. We take your privacy seriously and handle all data deletions according to Amazon's data protection standards. You can learn more about our privacy practices here.
Thank you for being part of our creator community!
Email screenshot of letter from Amazon Game Studios to creators in the Creator Program
Executives such as Steve Boom and Beth Galetti explained that restructuring was necessary to “reduce layers” and “increase ownership.” At the same time, they described generative AI as a promising area of growth for future games.
Internally, Amazon is redirecting resources toward low-cost, high-return projects such as AI-generated mobile titles and lightweight family-friendly experiences for the Luna cloud platform. This mirrors a broader corporate trend toward automation, cost efficiency, and data-driven design—at the expense of narrative and artistic depth.
Industry analysts and players have voiced concern that this could set a precedent for other tech giants. Rather than investing in large-scale, story-focused worlds, studios may instead chase predictable revenue through algorithmic, “content-as-a-service” models.
The Problem With AI-Driven Cash Grab Games
Many gamers are skeptical about AI-generated titles, and for good reason. Games built primarily around monetization or artificial intelligence often feel hollow, repetitive, and soulless. They lack the passion and identity that come from creative storytelling.
Gamers tend to look down at games that feel like a cash grab. The industry has already seen this backlash through failed NFT projects and rushed mobile tie-ins that prioritize microtransactions over substance.
Players crave story-driven experiences that make them feel something. Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have shown that storytelling still drives community engagement and long-term success. They prove that meaningful design and emotional investment can still outperform quick monetization tactics.
If major studios abandon these principles in favor of AI-driven “content farms,” they risk losing the trust of players entirely. Once gamers associate a brand with low-effort monetization, it’s incredibly difficult to rebuild goodwill.
Will This Become a Trend in the Gaming Industry?
It’s possible. The current direction of Silicon Valley game development points toward consolidation, automation, and monetization through artificial intelligence. Many large companies are cutting costs by replacing creative teams with AI-assisted design tools or content generators.
If this model proves profitable for Amazon, others could follow. Tech companies like Meta, Google, and even Microsoft are experimenting with AI in interactive entertainment. The concern is that this focus on automation could squeeze out the artistry that makes gaming a unique storytelling medium.
For smaller or mid-sized studios, this shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. As corporate studios pivot toward scalable AI content, independent developers can attract players seeking authenticity, emotion, and creativity.
Could China and Europe Fill the Void?
If Silicon Valley studios focus solely on monetized AI content, Chinese and European developers may rise to fill the creative gap.
Studios across China are already building upcoming MMORPGs that combine advanced technology with meaningful storytelling. Many have learned from the mistakes of Western live-service games, offering more player-driven freedom and stronger world-building. Titles like Justice Online Mobile and Perfect New World show how Chinese studios are expanding global influence by balancing accessibility with depth.
Meanwhile, European studios continue to prioritize narrative craft and artistic design. Companies like Larian Studios, CD Projekt Red, and Guerrilla Games have built loyal communities through character-driven storytelling and long-term support. Their success shows that there’s still demand for emotional, story-first gaming experiences that value creativity over cash flow. Indie developers like Myrkur Games are following suit, debuting story-driven games like Echoes of the End.
Screenshot from Echoes of the End
If U.S.-based publishers move further toward algorithmic design, international studios could capture audiences who want storytelling and craftsmanship over efficiency.
Why Major Studios Shouldn’t Abandon Story-Driven Games
Storytelling is the soul of gaming. It gives players purpose, emotion, and connection. When a game world feels alive—when characters matter and choices have weight—players stay invested for years.
By contrast, AI-driven cash grab games often burn out fast. They lack identity and fail to form emotional bonds with players. Monetization-heavy design leads to fatigue, resentment, and churn.
Major studios need to remember that creative storytelling isn’t just an art form—it’s good business. Games with strong narratives drive word-of-mouth, inspire fan art and cosplay, and foster online communities that outlive the game itself.
Amazon’s decision may save money in the short term, but it risks alienating a generation of players who still believe gaming should be about connection, not consumption.
What Comes Next for Players
As New World sunsets, players are reflecting on what made it special. It wasn’t just the PvP combat or the crafting—it was the sense of community and purpose that grew from shared experiences.
For many, that emotional core is what defines great gaming. It’s why players still talk about Skyrim or The Witcher 3 years after release. Games that tell stories, reward exploration, and make you care about their worlds stay relevant far longer than any algorithmic product cycle.
The gaming landscape is shifting, but that doesn’t mean the end of creativity. Smaller studios, global developers, and passionate communities are still keeping story-driven design alive.
As we look ahead to the best games of 2025, gamers must remember that we have the power to shape industry trends. Support the developers who value narrative depth. Buy from studios that respect their players. Celebrate the creators who still believe in storytelling as an art.
