Fans of New World Aeternum might just find a glimmer of hope on the horizon. As Amazon’s MMO approaches its official shutdown, an unexpected voice from beyond the studio has reemerged in the discussion, bringing a tone that resonates with a newfound gravity rather than mere jest.
Facepunch Studios, the creative force behind Rust and Garry’s Mod, has emerged as a prominent advocate against the notion that live service games should vanish for good. Facepunch COO Alistair McFarlane is stirring up new speculation that there could be intriguing developments unfolding behind the scenes.
New World Aeternum Is Officially Closing, and the Clock Is Ticking
Amazon Games has confirmed that New World Aeternum is being shut down permanently, with servers scheduled to go offline on January 31, 2027. The game has also been delisted as of January 15, 2026, meaning it is no longer available for new players to purchase.
While existing players can still log in and play until the final shutdown date, the announcement marked the beginning of the end for Aeternum, following months of uncertainty around the game’s long-term future.
Rust COO Previously Offered $25 Million to Buy New World
Shortly after the shutdown news went public, Alistair McFarlane made headlines by openly offering Amazon Games $25 million for New World Aeternum. The comment instantly went viral, mainly because it felt so unexpected and so direct.
Multiple outlets reported the offer, and while some fans saw it as pure social media trolling, it still created real buzz across the MMO community, especially because McFarlane followed it with one clear statement.
Games should never die.
That line alone became a rallying cry for players who have spent years building characters, guilds, and memories inside a game that was suddenly given an expiration date.
The New NDA Tweet Has Fans Speculating About a Deal
Now, McFarlane has posted another message that is raising eyebrows, this time hinting at private discussions rather than public offers.
In his tweet, he claimed he is “going to be signing an MNDA with [Unnamed Company]” and said it would be the end of his communications for the foreseeable future about anything related to that company’s games. He added that there are no deals, no announcements, just conversations, before ending with a cautious reminder for fans to “keep hope but, have low expectations.”
While he never directly mentions New World Aeternum by name in that post, the timing is hard to ignore. With fans still talking about his $25M offer and Amazon already in shutdown mode, the idea that Facepunch could be discussing something official no longer feels impossible.
Could Facepunch Actually Save New World Aeternum?
Right now, there is no confirmed purchase, no public agreement, and no official statement from Amazon Games suggesting New World Aeternum is being sold or transferred. McFarlane’s NDA message also clearly avoids promising anything, which suggests whatever is happening, if anything, is still early.
However, the MMO community has good reason to pay attention. Facepunch has a reputation for keeping games alive for years, and McFarlane has publicly talked about empowering players through community-driven solutions, including ideas like allowing servers to be hosted publicly.
If a studio like Facepunch ever did acquire New World Aeternum, that kind of philosophy could completely change what the game’s final chapter looks like.
A Sign of Hope
New World has had a messy history, but it also built a passionate fanbase that still believes the MMO has untapped potential. The official shutdown announcement felt like the final nail in the coffin, especially for players who wanted the game to get more updates, improvements, and long-term support.
That is why even a vague NDA tweet from a respected industry figure is enough to reignite speculation. After all, NDAs usually exist for one reason: to keep active discussions out of the public eye.
For now, New World Aeternum is still on course to shut down, and nothing has officially changed. But with Alistair McFarlane once again making noise, and now hinting at behind-the-scenes conversations under NDA, fans are left wondering if this MMO might get one last chance to survive. Until something is confirmed, the best approach is exactly what McFarlane suggested. Keep hope, but have low expectations.
