In 2021, Amazon Games launched New World, a robust MMO that marked the publisher's first foray into the gaming industry. Over the past three years, New World has undergone numerous updates and changes, evolving significantly from its original state. This fall, Amazon Games is set to take New World to new heights with the introduction of New World: Aeternum, bringing the full MMO experience to consoles along with several exciting changes designed to enhance gameplay, particularly for solo players. During the Summer Game Fest, we had the opportunity to get a hands-on preview of Aeternum, and it's clear that Amazon's adaptation is charting a promising course.

Enhanced Character Creation

Our journey in Aeternum began with New World's comprehensive character creation system. The depth of customization available is impressive, with dozens of options across multiple categories such as face, hairstyle, scars, tattoos, and more. This allows players to create characters that truly reflect their vision. The introduction of a virtual cursor system simplifies the selection process, making it easy to navigate through the myriad options.

One of the standout features in character creation is the new Archetype system. This system streamlines the class-creation process by condensing it from a wide array of broad classes to  buy New World Coins a more focused set of abilities and weapon proficiencies. For instance, the Swordbearer is a tank class that excels in heavy weaponry and starts with buffs to cooking and fishing skills. Conversely, the Occultist is a magic-based class that uses elemental spells and begins with enhanced mining and jewelcrafting abilities.

Creative director Dave Verafaillie explained the rationale behind the Archetype system during an interview with GameSpot at Summer Game Fest. "Archetypes are a great way to onboard people," Verafaillie said. "You don't have to worry about too much customization stuff; you can just choose your play style and get in and enjoy it." This focus on simplifying the startup experience for console players ensures that new players can jump into the game quickly without being overwhelmed by extensive customization options.

Console-Optimized Controls

Transitioning New World to consoles required careful consideration of control schemes to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience. Aeternum's combat and traversal mechanics have been adapted to fit the standard console controller, resulting in intuitive and responsive controls. Basic movements, jumps, and attacks are mapped to familiar buttons, providing a natural feel similar to standard action games rather than traditional MMOs.

One notable feature is the mapping of normal attacks to the R2/RT button, with attack variations depending on how long the button is held down. A quick press executes a standard attack, while holding the button results in a heavy attack that takes longer to execute but deals more damage. This approach adds a layer of strategy to combat, allowing players to be more deliberate with their attacks while maintaining simplicity in execution. Overall, the control scheme translates exceptionally well, ensuring that console players can enjoy New World with minimal friction.

Solo Play Enhancements

A significant focus for New World: Aeternum is enhancing the solo play experience, making the game more accessible and enjoyable for players who prefer to venture alone. This includes adjustments to quest structures, scaling of enemy difficulty, and the addition of solo-friendly content. By catering to solo players, Amazon Games aims to broaden the game's appeal and provide a fulfilling experience for those who may not always have a group to play with.

Verafaillie highlighted the importance of solo play during the Summer Game Fest presentation. "We recognize that not everyone has the time or inclination to group up for every activity," he said. "By improving the solo play experience, we hope to make New World more inclusive and enjoyable for a wider audience."

New Content and Features

In addition to the changes in character creation and controls, New World: Aeternum introduces several new features and content to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Players can look forward to New World Gold new quests, dungeons, and world events designed specifically for the console release. These additions aim to provide both new and returning players with exciting challenges and rewards.

One of the most anticipated features is the revamped town-building mechanic. Players can now build and manage their own town, Kingsmarch, which serves as a central hub for crafting, trading, and social interactions. This system allows players to create a personalized base of operations, fostering a sense of ownership and community within the game.

Improved Graphics and Performance

Bringing New World to consoles also necessitated improvements in graphics and performance. Aeternum benefits from enhanced visual fidelity, with detailed environments, realistic lighting, and improved character models. These graphical upgrades ensure that the game looks stunning on modern consoles, providing an immersive experience that rivals its PC counterpart.

Performance optimization has also been a priority, with efforts to ensure smooth gameplay and minimal lag. The development team has worked diligently to optimize the game's engine for consoles, resulting in stable frame rates and responsive controls. These improvements are crucial for maintaining a high-quality gaming experience, particularly in an MMO where performance can significantly impact gameplay.

Community and Feedback

As with any major update, community feedback has played a crucial role in shaping New World: Aeternum. The development team has actively engaged with players, gathering insights and suggestions to inform their decisions. This collaborative approach ensures that the changes and new features align with player expectations and enhance the overall experience.

Verafaillie emphasized the importance of community feedback during the presentation. "Our players are at the heart of everything we do," he said. "Their feedback is invaluable in helping us create a game that they love and want to keep playing. We are committed to listening to our community and making New World the best it can be."

Conclusion

New World: Aeternum represents a significant milestone for Amazon Games, as they bring their flagship MMO to consoles with a host of enhancements and new features. The revamped character creation system, console-optimized controls, and focus on solo play are just a few of the changes designed to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience. With improved graphics, performance, and community-driven development, Aeternum is poised to deliver a rich and immersive experience for both new and returning players. As the launch date approaches, excitement continues to build for what promises to be a groundbreaking adaptation of New World.

For example, normal attacks are mapped to R2/RT, and attacks vary on how long you hold the button down. Pressing normally will result in a standard attack, but holding the button down will result in a heavy attack which takes longer to execute but deals more damage on contact. This approach feels great in practice, as it allows you to be more deliberate with attacks while keeping execution simple, and the control scheme as a whole works incredibly well in translating New World to the console experience.