Now that New World has a new release date for Season 5, Season of the Guardian, and merged some servers along the way, the team is preparing everyone for hte update with release details and more on the way.
The update is set to go live on April 2nd, and downtime will begin at 5AM PT / 8AM ET/ 12PM UTC, with an expected two hours until the big update goes live. The team initially pushed back the date for the new season in order to follow up on feedback received on the PTR and make some adjustments ahead of a new date. Along with the solid launch details, the recent announcement of everything waiting to be earned on the season pass reward tracks, there are also full update notes to peruse and get ready for the next season in Aeternum.
The update will bring the new Winter Rune Forge seasonal trial, which challenges teams to work together to not only defeat enemies, including an Ancient Ice Guardian, but to solve puzzles to progress along the way.
The full main story questline has been updated throughout, based on feedback and player experience since launch. There are improvements, increased variety, and additional stories too, in case you want to start a new adventure (or roll an alt).
New Artifacts are coming, with some tweaked based on that PTR feedback. The Phoenix Amulet will now let you avoid death and rez with 100% max health, you get the Vengeance status effect, reducing healing effectiveness by 200% and taking damage until you die or get a kill. Two of the new Artifacts will be available on the season pass reward track.
Another feature that got some tweaks after the PTR is the overhauled combat and animation system, using a new script. The changes are intended to improve performance, particularly helping more flexible adjustment in crowded areas, like Outpost Rush. And speaking of OPR, mounts are coming.
New World’s season will also include updates to Cooking, with the overall item reassessment impacting foods and recipes first, and some technical updates, including finally adding controller support.
