New World: Aeternum Is Closing — Your Complete Shutdown Timeline

Don’t Get Caught Off-Guard: New World: Aeternum’s Shutdown — What You Need to Know, Today

If you’ve poured time, money and memories into New World: Aeternum, the January 2026 shutdown announcement raises urgent questions: what happens to your purchases, characters and screenshots? This guide gives a clear, date-driven shutdown timeline plus decision deadlines and action items so you can protect your investment and preserve the parts of Aeternum you care about most.

The short version — key dates at a glance

• Jan 15, 2026 — New World is delisted from storefronts. The game is no longer available for purchase, but existing owners keep full access.
• Jul 20, 2026 — Marks of Fortune (in‑game purchasable currency) will no longer be available to buy. No refunds will be issued for Marks purchases.
• Jan 31, 2027 — Official servers for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S go offline. This is the final playable day.

Why this matters now (and why you should act)

Delisting means no new buyers, but ownership retains play access until servers shut off. The crucial deadlines are about monetization and data permanence:

• Marks of Fortune cutoff: If you plan to buy Marks, do it before July 20, 2026. After that date, Amazon will stop sales — and they’ve confirmed no refunds for Marks purchases.
• Server shutdown: After Jan 31, 2027 the game won’t be playable in its current form. Any server‑side items, progression and characters will be gone unless community projects or Amazon change course.

"We want to thank the players for your dedication and passion. We are grateful for the time spent crafting the world of Aeternum with you… While we are saddened to say goodbye, we’re honored that we were able to share so much with the community." — Amazon Games (January 2026)

Timeline: Step-by-step with decision deadlines

Jan 15, 2026 — Delisting: immediate actions

Amazon started delisting New World from storefronts on Jan 15, 2026. Owners keep the game in their libraries and may re-download it until servers shut down, but here’s what you should do right away:

• Verify ownership: Check Steam, PSN or Microsoft Store to confirm the game shows in your library and is re-downloadable.
• Document accounts and characters: Make a roster of characters (server, name, level, faction, notable gear) and take high-resolution screenshots of each character, housing, trophies and wardrobe items.
• Export community contacts: Save Discord, guild leaderboards, and any external links for your guild/clan. If a guild has a website or spreadsheet, download copies.
• Plan final runs: Coordinate with your group for farewell events — raids, PvP tournaments, screenshot nights — and schedule them well in advance of the server cutoff.

By Jul 20, 2026 — Marks of Fortune sales cutoff (decision deadline)

Amazon confirmed that starting July 20, 2026 Marks of Fortune will no longer be available to buy. Important details and recommended actions:

• Understand the risk: Amazon also said refunds will not be offered for Marks purchases. That means any purchased Marks are a non-refundable, potentially stranded currency if you don’t use them.
• Action: Spend strategically — If you intend to buy Marks, prioritize non-consumable items (permanent cosmetics, mounts if available, or things you value long-term). Avoid buying pure consumables unless you’ll use them before shutdown.
• Check what’s tradeable: Some cosmetic items and gear may be transferable via in-game trading systems or the Trading Post. If something can be traded for gold or items you value, factor that into your decision.
• Platform purchases: If you buy Marks through platform wallets (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox), check platform policies for chargebacks or refunds — Amazon explicitly rules out Marks refunds, but platform-level disputes have different rules.
• Last day to buy: If you must top up Marks for a final event or to complete a collection, make the purchase no later than July 19, 2026 (local timezone), to be safe.

Between Jul 21, 2026 and Jan 31, 2027 — Final playing window

This is the last long window for play. Nighthaven season will run through the shutdown — use the time to close out goals and archive what matters.

• Finish progression goals: Clear endgame content, secure achievements and complete season goals you care about.
• Hold in-game farewell events: Stream or record these; they’ll be irreplaceable memories once servers are offline.
• Create archives: Compile screenshots, video montages and guild logs into a single archive. Upload them to cloud storage and community repositories.
• Consider gifting: If your server allows, pass prized items or accounts (where permitted) to friends. Follow ToS to avoid account bans.

Jan 31, 2027 — Servers go offline (final deadline)

At 23:59 UTC on Jan 31, 2027 (confirm local announcement times), official servers will be taken offline. After this point:

• Characters, progression and server-side economy will no longer be accessible via official servers.
• Players will still be able to access any locally saved media (screenshots, recordings, exported files).
• Community projects, private servers and archival efforts may try to recreate or preserve parts of Aeternum — expect legal, technical and security risks.

How to preserve your Aeternum legacy — a practical checklist

Here’s a prioritized, practical checklist to protect what matters: screenshots, characters, items, guild history, and digital receipts.

1) Archive visuals and media (immediate)

• Take high-res screenshots of all characters, housing, trophies, and unique items. Use [Alt]+[PrintScreen] or built-in capture tools on consoles.
• Record final raids, PvP wins and housing tours. Aim for multiple angles — stream VODs are great to keep.
• Upload media to at least two places: a cloud service (Google Drive/OneDrive) and a community repo (Discord, guild site, YouTube playlist).

2) Save account & purchase documentation (this week)

• Download receipts for the base game, expansions and any DLC. Save transaction IDs for Marks and platform purchases.
• Export any available account history — support tickets, purchase history pages, and subscription details.

3) Preserve social and community history

• Export guild rosters and logs where possible. If your guild used Google Sheets or external tools, download copies.
• Save Discord channels by exporting important messages or pinning them and saving screenshots.

4) Back up local game files

• For PC owners: back up configuration files, add-on folders, and any local mods. These are usually in your user AppData or Steam userdata folders — make a copy.
• For Steam users: use Steam’s screenshot manager to export your pictures and use Steam’s backup features if you want an installer copy.
• For console players: make sure captures are uploaded to your console cloud or external storage before the shutdown date.

Can you legally move New World assets to another game or private server?

Short answer: not reliably or legally, in most cases. Be cautious.

• Private servers: Community-run servers pop up after shutdowns, but they often operate in a legal gray area. They may violate Amazon’s IP and carry security risks (malware, account phishing). Proceed only with trusted community leadership, and never share your Amazon account credentials.
• Account transfers: Official transfers to other MMOs are not supported. Don’t fall for scams promising to move characters for a fee.

How to decide whether to buy Marks before July 20, 2026

Use this decision algorithm to avoid buyer’s remorse:

1. Ask: Will the Marks be used for permanent, non-consumable goods I truly want? If yes, proceed with caution.
2. Estimate value: Compare Marks' cost to your expected playtime before Jan 2027. If you won’t use them, don’t buy.
3. Document purchases: Save receipts and transaction IDs in case disputes arise later.

Community preservation: what we can expect (2026 trends and the future)

Two big trends in 2026 shape how Aeternum’s legacy will evolve:

• Legacy preservation efforts: With more titles shutting down in the mid-2020s, grassroots archives (screenshots, streamed events, wiki documentation) are becoming standard. Expect guilds and fans to produce high-quality retrospectives and YouTube documentaries preserving Aeternum’s lore and events.
• Legal and technical caution around private projects: Developers and platform holders are more protective of IP now than in previous eras. Private servers may exist, but they’ll face higher scrutiny — and security risks for players.

Alternatives and where to go next

If you’re grieving the end of Aeternum and want places to find similar experiences or maintain your community, consider:

• Other live MMOs with active communities: Check modern titles with seasonal content and consistent community support. Look for games with clear shutdown policies and strong developer communication.
• Smaller survival/MMO hybrids: Many indie MMOs and survival-MMOs emphasize player-driven economies and social systems similar to New World’s crafting and housing.
• Community hubs: Keep your guild together in Discord, move leaderboards and archives to shared drives, and plan cross-game events to preserve social bonds.

Practical case study: What a veteran guild did

In late 2025, a 200-member New World guild began an archival project: they scheduled farewell raids, recorded top 100 player highlights, exported guild spreadsheets, and built a public gallery of screenshots and video montages. The guild leader said this approach helped members say goodbye without losing the social capital they’d built — most members moved on to a single new title together, using the gallery as a memory bank and community recruiting tool.

Security and scam warnings

• Never give out your Amazon account credentials to join private server projects.
• Beware services promising character transfers or “account preservation” for a fee — these are almost always scams.
• Only download community tools from trusted sources and check file hashes where possible.

Q&A — quick answers to common questions

Will I still be able to re-download New World after delisting?

Yes. Owners can re-download the game through their platform libraries until the servers close on Jan 31, 2027.

Can I get a refund on Marks of Fortune?

Amazon has stated no refunds for Marks purchases. Check store-level policies for any possible disputes, but do not rely on refunds as a plan.

Is Nighthaven season still running?

Yes. Amazon confirmed the Nighthaven season will run through the shutdown date, giving players a final themed window for events and rewards.

Final checklist — immediate to long-term

• Today: Verify ownership, snapshot character rosters, and start archiving media.
• Before Jul 20, 2026: Decide on any Marks purchases and document transactions.
• Between Jul 21, 2026 and Jan 31, 2027: Finish goals, host farewell events, and create public archives.
• Jan 31, 2027: Last chance to play on official servers — log out with your community and keep the memories.

Parting thoughts — the broader trend in 2026

New World’s wind-down is emblematic of a larger mid‑2020s pattern: big studios consolidating live services, clearer shutdown timelines, and communities becoming proactive archivists. As players, the best move is to act early — preserve what you care about and protect your purchases. That way, Aeternum’s memories live on, even if its servers don’t.

What we’ll cover next

We’ll publish hands-on guides for: exporting Steam screenshots and VODs, making a guild archive package, and vetting private server projects (legal and security checklists). If you want any of these guides next, tell us which one you need first.

Call to action: Join our New World shutdown hub on Discord to swap archival tips, post farewell event times, and download community packs. Follow our coverage for step-by-step tutorials on backing up screenshots, exporting receipts, and evaluating private server risks. Don’t wait — start your archive today.

Related Reading

• From Marketing Hype to Technical Reality: Avoiding Overclaiming in Quantum Product Launches
• How to Trade Up: Use Your Tech Trade-Ins (Phones, Tablets) to Offset a Car Trade-In Loss
• Sustainable Cozy: Eco-Friendly Winter Accessories and Jewelry Packaging for Holiday Upsells
• Packaging & Presentation: Why Luxe Unboxing Sells — And How We Design Hair Box Experiences
• When a Hit Leaves Broadway: How Dubai Attracts Touring Musicals and What It Means for Audiences