Amazon’s entry into the gaming industry was bold and ambitious, but also inconsistent. The company began its gaming journey in 2014 with the creation of Amazon Game Studios. Its true leap of faith came in 2021 with New World, a fantasy MMO that made a massive impact at launch — only to fade into obscurity before being revived as New World: Aeternum.
Now, with Amazon confirming that the game will shut down in 2027, not everyone is ready to say goodbye. Alistair McFarlane, the current head of Rust, has stepped forward with a surprising offer to buy the game.
A Million-Dollar Offer to Save New World: Aeternum
Amazon Games announced yesterday that New World: Aeternum servers will close permanently on January 31, 2027. That gives players just over a year to enjoy the title or hope for a last-minute twist. This decision follows Amazon’s 2025 move to halt post-launch content for the MMO — a sign that the tech giant might be rethinking its future in gaming.
But Alistair McFarlane doesn’t want the game to vanish. The producer and director at Facepunch Studios — the team behind Rust and Garry’s Mod — took to X (formerly Twitter) with a direct message to Amazon Game Studios: “25m, final offer.”
At first, many thought it was a joke. However, McFarlane later doubled down, saying, “Games should never die.” His message resonated with players who believe that online worlds should be preserved instead of erased when companies move on.
Following the buzz, McFarlane expanded on his idea, sharing a vision for a more open and community-driven model.
“As with everything we do at Facepunch, empower the community. Give them control, make servers publicly hostable. A game will live forever in the hands of a dedicated community,” he wrote.
This philosophy stands in contrast to the typical approach taken by large publishers, who often shut down games once they become unprofitable.
For now, Amazon has not responded publicly to McFarlane’s offer, nor has it indicated whether it would consider selling New World: Aeternum. The game is no longer available for purchase, making this proposal the only potential lifeline to keep it alive.
