Amazon Games announced this morning that it will open a test version of its upcoming console version of its MMO, New World, this July, giving Xbox and PlayStation players a chance to play Aeternum for the first time.
New World: Aeternum, announced back at Summer Game Fest's showcase on June 7th, is the upcoming console port and PC revamp coming to New World on October 15th. While console players are getting the game for the first time, existing PC players are simply getting a revamped update, bringing all the new features and content to the PC MMO as a free upgrade for those who own last year's excellent Rise of the Angry Earth expansion. Though, if you don't have Rise of the Angry Earth, there will still be plenty for you to do.
However, like New World before it launched, Aeternum needs some testing, and given this is Amazon Games' first foray into console gaming at this scale, it makes sense that it'll be holding a console-only test to test out the build and learn from its results to incorporate into October's release.
The closed beta test will run from July 11th at 9am PT to July 17th at 9am PT. This test will have cross-play and run on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X. You can sign up for the beta test for a chance to join in the action and check out the console build ahead of its launch later this year.
New World: Aeternum hasn't enjoyed a smooth announcement over the last six days, as PC players especially have been up in arms who feel snubbed in favor of a new audience, something some long-time fans feel has happened before with the hardcore PvP shift before launch. Amazon attempted to reassure fans that PC players were not being left out with the console announcement in a Q&A released yesterday, though the reaction from the community has been more negative than anything else since.
Despite the negativity surrounding Aeternum right now, MMORPG.com contributor Kazuma rather enjoyed his time with New World: Aeternum in a hands-on preview of the PlayStation 5 version at Summer Game Fest Play Days over the weekend. We also had the chance to chat with New World's dev team about the changes, why some were made, and why Amazon is now insistent on labeling New World: Aeternum an ARPG rather than an MMO.
