New World Shutting Down: Where UK Players Go Next and How to Migrate Your MMO Life

New World is shutting down — now what? A practical roadmap for UK players

Hook: If you logged in today and saw the announcement that New World: Aeternum will go offline, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to lose your friends, builds or the countless hours you invested. This guide walks UK players through immediate steps to preserve social ties and game data, how to handle refunds and ownership questions, and where to move your MMO life next in 2026.

What changed (short version)

On 15 January 2026 Amazon Games confirmed that New World: Aeternum will be delisted and will go offline on 31 January 2027 across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Nighthaven seasonal event has been extended through the remaining live time so players can continue to enjoy Aeternum until the shutdown. The delisting means new buyers will be blocked from purchasing the game on storefronts, but current owners can keep playing until the final day.

"We want to thank the players for your dedication and passion... Together we built something special." — Amazon Games, Jan 2026

Immediate priorities: What you should do in the next 7–30 days

When a live-service MMO announces a shutdown, speed and documentation matter. Below are the high-priority actions to take now — ordered by impact on your social life, finances and game assets.

1. Preserve your social graph (friends, guildmates, communities)

Social ties are the most valuable thing you’ll lose when a server closes. Do this first.

1. Create a central hub — set up a Discord or Guilded server this weekend and make it the canonical home for your group. Give it clear channels (announcements, raids, trading, socials) and a simple invite link.
2. Collect account identifiers — compile a spreadsheet (Google Sheets works fine) with each member’s: in-game name, platform (Steam/PSN/Xbox), platform handle, Discord tag, email (if members consent), and timezone. This becomes your migration directory.
3. Export where possible — Steam: there’s no built-in “export friends” CSV, but you can generate a Steam Web API key and use a small script or community tool to pull friend lists. For consoles, take screenshots of friends lists and send them to the new Discord. Don’t delay — friend lists sometimes change as players move off-platform.
4. Schedule farewell events — use the extended Nighthaven event to run guild XP runs, screenshot sessions, and final PvP sieges. Record voice chats for nostalgia (with consent) and set up a decent live-recording rig (see field rig best practices).

2. Salvage characters, builds and collections

You can’t transfer characters to another game, but you can preserve everything necessary to rebuild your playstyle elsewhere.

• Document builds — write down attributes, weapon trees, perks, and skill point distributions. Take screenshots of the skill window and gear statistics. Store these in a shared folder (Google Drive/OneDrive) with clear filenames.
• Inventory and cosmetics — photograph or screenshot your housing, mounts (if any), cosmetics and rare items. For paid cosmetics, copy transaction IDs and timestamps from platform purchase history (Steam/Xbox/PS).
• Take video guides — 5–10 minute clips showing rotation, weapon combos and open-world tips are gold for a new guild home. Upload to unlisted YouTube or your Discord server; if you want a quick starter on making short playable guides, see portfolio projects to learn AI video creation.

3. Record economic and guild data

If your guild runs a market or crafting chain, losing that institutional knowledge is costly. Snapshot everything.

• Take screenshots of the trading post history for valuable items (prices, trends).
• Export or copy crafting recipes, production chains and location guides (node locations, spawn times).
• Capture guild bank contents and ownership logs; if your guild has officers, decide who will manage the archive post-shutdown.

4. Gather purchase evidence and prepare refund requests

Refund outcomes can vary — platform policies, timing and whether microtransactions remain usable will determine what you can get back. Do this immediately.

• Collect receipts — Steam/PS/Xbox receipts, Amazon order emails, and any payment provider records. Put them in a single, time-stamped folder. For documentation best practices and digital proof approaches, see the e-signatures evolution guide.
• Record microtransaction IDs — for cosmetic packs, premium currency, and battle pass purchases, copy transaction IDs and the exact item names.
• Check platform policies — Steam’s standard refund policy allows refunds within 14 days and under 2 hours of play unless otherwise specified. Platforms occasionally grant exceptions for shutdowns — contact support with your receipts and ask for a goodwill credit if a direct refund is refused.
• Contact Amazon support — submit a polite request outlining purchases, the impact of the shutdown, and a request for store credit or refund. Use clear evidence and be concise; make sure your outreach is deliverable (see email deliverability tips).

How refunds and ownership are likely to play out in 2026 (what UK players should expect)

By 2025–26 the industry and regulators were paying more attention to live-service closures. That trend helps players, but outcomes still vary by platform and publisher.

• Delisting vs shutdown: Delisting removes new purchases; it doesn’t erase ownership for players who already bought the game. You can play until the servers turn off.
• Store refunds: Expect platforms to follow their existing refund windows. If you bought the game recently, a standard refund route may work; older purchases are less likely to be refunded automatically. Evidence and polite escalation can secure exceptions sometimes.
• Microtransactions: Cosmetic items that can’t be used after shutdown are trickier. Platforms have sometimes issued partial credits or granted small refunds to affected users — but this is decided case-by-case.
• UK consumer law: Rights for digital content are improving, but they don’t guarantee refunds for discontinued services in every circumstance. Keep receipts and lodge formal complaints through platform support first, then escalate through UK consumer channels if needed. Be aware of shifting regulation, including EU/UK data and residency changes that can affect evidence handling.

Where UK players should go next: MMOs and live-service games to consider in 2026

Picking a new MMO depends on what you loved about New World. Below are recommended destinations, why they fit former New World players and practical tips for migrating your group.

1. Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) — for community and structure

Why try it: FFXIV’s content cadence, strong endgame and social FC (free company) systems make it a top choice for groups seeking stability and shared progression. The European data centres are active and UK players are well represented.

Migration tips:

• Reserve names and server spots — FFXIV can have queue times on popular servers; decide on a data centre and recruit accordingly.
• Use your Discord as the new FC recruitment hub; export your build docs so members can pick classes that complement each other in raids and trials.

2. Guild Wars 2 — for open-world play and flexible group content

Why try it: Fast open-world events, accessible PvP and big Living World updates keep communities engaged without rigid raiding schedules — useful for former Aeternum players who enjoyed world PvP and territory-style gameplay.

Migration tips:

• Pick a European server with an active UK timezone community; local Discords and Reddit are great for making UK guild alliances.
• Guild migration is simple: Guilds can recruit across servers and share resources through in-game guild halls and Discord coordination.

3. The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) — for exploration and roleplay

Why try it: ESO’s large open world, faction-based PvP (Cyrodiil) and approachable group content suit players who value lore plus open-world sieges. EU servers host many UK players and guilds.

Migration tips:

• Look for existing UK guilds recruiting from New World — many are offering "welcome packs" to transfer social groups into ESO.
• Use ESO’s activity finder to get new members integrated quickly.

4. Black Desert Online (BDO) or Lost Ark — action-combat alternatives

Why try it: If you loved weapon-swapping, action combat and sandbox economies, Black Desert and Lost Ark offer fast-paced combat and strong life-skills crafting. Both maintain robust EU populations in 2026.

Migration tips:

• BDO has steep progression curves; plan for new players by creating starter guides from your New World build docs.
• Lost Ark’s isometric action and structured endgame can appeal to New World veterans who liked set-piece encounters.

5. Newer shared-world and cross-play titles (what to watch in 2026)

Industry trends in late 2025 and early 2026 show more hybrid MMO/looter-shooter experiences, better cross-play and a push for community portability. Keep an eye on:

• Mid-tier shared-world survival games that launch with guild-first tools.
• Cross-play enabled MMOs adding dedicated EU/UK servers to attract displaced communities.
• Games offering account-bound cross-progression and better social export tools — these are a priority for UK guilds looking to future-proof their communities. For publisher-side migration playbooks, see When Platform Drama Drives Installs.

Practical migration checklist — make moving painless

Use this checklist to move your guild or playgroup from Aeternum to a new MMO with minimal friction.

1. Create a migration Discord/Guilded server and pin a detailed migration plan.
2. Survey members for preferred games and playtimes; pick one or two target games to trial as a group.
3. Run a "trial week" in the target game with onboarding guides, Q&A sessions and mentor pairings.
4. Assign roles: officers for recruitment, a migration tech lead (handles name reservations, server selection), and a social lead for events.
5. Archive all New World guides, screenshots and videos in a shared folder for future reference.

Templates you can copy: Outreach and refund messages

Guild migration announcement (short)

Hi all — New World is shutting down on 31 Jan 2027. We’re setting up [Discord invite link] as our permanent home and running a trial in [Game] from [date]. Please add your platform handles to this spreadsheet link and join the welcome voice channel at 7pm GMT this Friday.

Refund/support request (email template)

Subject: Purchase support request — New World purchases (Account: [your email]) Hello [Platform/Publisher Support], I purchased New World: Aeternum on [date] (Order ID: [xxxxx]). The game has been announced for shutdown on 31 Jan 2027 and I would like to request a refund or store credit for the following purchases: [list items with transaction IDs]. I have attached screenshots of receipts. Please advise on the options available. Thank you for your help — I appreciate any support while the service is winding down. Kind regards, [Your name]

Community preservation: archiving and nostalgia

Players around the world have been archiving closed MMOs for years — screenshots, encounter logs, item databases and lore wikis. For UK guilds that ran major community projects, consider:

• Making a public archive on GitHub or a simple website with screenshots, guides and leaderboards.
• Publishing a farewell montage on YouTube and linking it in your new Discord. Use it to recruit new players and recruit ex-members who return after the nostalgia wave; see video creation project ideas.
• Creating a shared Google Drive with key documents (crafting chains, guild bank snapshots, officer notes) for future reference.

Legal and ethical notes

Private servers and unofficial emulation projects often appear after shutdowns. Be cautious:

• Running or using private servers can violate terms of service and copyright law; weigh the legal risk. See regulatory due diligence guidance for context.
• Archiving screenshots and personal data for historical/nostalgia reasons is generally allowable, but don’t distribute proprietary server files or assets.

Final checklist — 10 things to complete this week

1. Set up the migration Discord and invite all friends/guildmates.
2. Export/capture friend lists and platform handles.
3. Document your top 3 character builds with screenshots and notes.
4. Take screenshots of rare cosmetics and transactions.
5. Archive guild bank and trading post price snapshots.
6. Contact platform support with purchase receipts if seeking refunds.
7. Pick 1–2 candidate games for the community trial.
8. Schedule farewell events and record the best moments.
9. Create a public archive or montage for posterity.
10. Assign migration roles and publish the plan on your new server.

Why this matters in 2026 — lessons and future-proofing

The New World shutdown is part of a larger industry trend in 2025–26: publishers are consolidating live services and players are demanding better portability of communities and assets. For UK players the practical outcome is clear — the social layer matters more than individual games. By migrating to platforms and titles that prioritize easy social exports (Discord/Guilded integration, cross-play, EU servers), you protect your group against future closures. For a publisher-side view on migrations, read When Platform Drama Drives Installs.

Parting thoughts and call-to-action

Lose the stress, not your people. New World’s Aeternum may be going offline, but the friendships, tactics and community culture you built are portable — if you act now. Follow the checklist above, pick a trial game with your group, and archive what matters.

Call-to-action: Join our UK New World Migration Discord (invite link) to find UK-friendly guilds, scheduled trial nights and step-by-step migration help. If you’d rather read first, comment below with your server, platform and playtimes — we’ll recommend the best destination and connect you to a group.

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