Players can now sign up for the New World: Aeternum Confidential Console Closed Beta that is due to start next month. The beta aims to let players test out a variety of content from the character creation tool through to end-game activities, although those who do take part will be subject to a non-disclosure agreement.

How to sign up for the New World: Aeternum closed beta

The Confidential Console Closed Beta is available to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players in North America and Europe. The beta begins at 9 AM PT on July 11 and runs until 9 AM PT on July 17. Those who wish to take part can sign up now:

1. Go to the New World: Aeternum website and sign in with your Amazon account.
2. Choose your platform: PlayStation or Xbox
3. Hit the Sign Up Now button

Those who are chosen to take part in the closed beta will be notified via email “in the days leading up to the start of the test.” Preloads will begin at 9 AM PT on July 9. The test is subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement meaning players won’t be able to stream, post videos or screenshots, or discuss the game outside of the feedback channels.

The beta offers the chance to customize a character, experiment with unique weapons, and explore vast, supernatural zones both in the campaign and end-game. Bear in mind that progress will be wiped before the game’s full release on October 15. Cross-play is available between PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, although PC players will not take part in this beta.

Following a leak on the PlayStation Store, New World: Aeternum was confirmed for consoles during Summer Game Fest. Aeternum will come with the base game, the Rise of the Angry Earth expansion, and all updates that PC players have received so far, including Brimstone Sands. New features will include a large-scale PvP zone, a 10-player raid, and end-game solo trials.

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A PS5 version of Amazon’s open-world MMORPG New World Aeternum has been leaked on the PlayStation Store. A sponsored advert for the game appeared briefly on the console’s PS Store for some players before it was swiftly removed. The game’s official announcement is expected tonight although some players are hoping the game will be stealth-dropped later.

New World Aeternum PS5 announcement expected at Summer Game Fest

The announcement of the PS5 version of the game is expected to be made during tonight’s Summer Game Fest show, which will be shown at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET on YouTube and Twitch. The New World Twitter account has been teasing an announcement all week, although many believed this to just be a big update on PC prior to the leak.

The advert was noticed on the PS5 PS Store by Reddit user OMG_R3A11Y, although it disappeared from the console soon afterward. New World Aeternum is currently only available on PC although sources have told Insider Gaming that it will be coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in October. When the game first entered development, Amazon Game Studios didn’t consider console platforms because it was focusing on “pushing graphics as far as we can,” although it seems like that has now changed.

New World Aeternum is set on the titular hostile and cursed island of Aeternum. Players assume the role of the Sole Survivor, who is washed up on the island’s shore after a shipwreck. The aim is to become a powerful hero who forges a new life on the island, completing quests, gathering supplies, and defeating The Corrupted and other players along the way. Players can either forge their journey alone or join one of three factions — the Covenant, Marauders, or Syndicate — that control the towns and territories.

The game currently has a variety of game modes for varying numbers of players. Expeditions offer dungeon experiences for groups of five players where there are foes to encounter, mysteries to uncover and loot to find. Elsewhere there are 3v3 PvP arenas for smaller groups. Larger teams of 20 players can take part in Outpost Rush where two factions compete for control of fortifications and resources.

The biggest modes feature teams of 50 players. The first is Invasions where teams co-operate to take down waves of monsters. The second is War mode, where two teams of attackers and defenders take part in siege warfare.

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Amazon Games will be publishing a new Tomb Raider game with Crystal Dynamics, despite the fact that the developer is owned by Embracer Group. This Tomb Raider sequel will continue Lara Croft’s story from Shadow of the Tomb Raider, released back in 2018, and is currently in early development. No release date or release platforms have been revealed yet, though it’s confirmed to be a multiplatform game. So it’s expected to release on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S at a minimum.

New Tomb Raider game will use Unreal Engine 5

The untitled Tomb Raider game will continue the traditional gameplay for the series as a “single-player, narrative-driven adventure,” according to a press release. Using the Unreal Engine 5 engine, it looks to be a back-to-basics game with Croft needing to solve puzzles while overcoming enemies in ancient ruins. This should be a welcome change of pace for Crystal Dynamics, which was assigned to develop the multiplayer-focused Marvel’s Avengers when it was owned by Square Enix.

Given that the developer is now owned by Embracer Group, who has multiple publishing arms like THQ Nordic, Amazon Games is a surprise publisher for the new Tomb Raider game. Embracer Group, who previously indicated that they were interested in Tomb Raider remasters, is probably getting something from this deal, though we’re unsure what that is (apart from maybe that Amazon cash).

This Tomb Raider sequel is likely Project Jawbreaker, as revealed in a voice script leaked in July 2022. The story reportedly follows Croft as she “struggles with loneliness” and faces “a mysterious cataclysm she cannot face alone.”

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Amazon’s struggling video game business has suffered yet another setback. In 2019, the company announced that a Lord of the Rings MMO was in development for consoles and PC with the help of Leyou Technologies Holdings Ltd. Last December, Leyou was purchased by Tencent, following which a dispute arose between Amazon and the conglomerate, leading to the game’s cancellation.

This news was first revealed by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier. Amazon has officially confirmed that its Lord of the Rings is no more. Tencent did not offer a comment.

“We have been unable to secure terms to proceed with this title at this time,” said an Amazon spokesperson. “We love the Lord of the Rings IP, and are disappointed that we won’t be bringing this game to customers.”

Bloomberg’s report didn’t reveal what caused the rift. According to Schreier, the “resulting contract negotiations led to a dispute between Amazon and Tencent that eventually caused the game’s cancellation, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the issue.”

Amazon Game Studios launched in 2014 but has yet to successfully release a game. Several of its projects have been cancelled or delayed.

“Tolkien’s Middle-earth is one of the richest fictional worlds in history, and it gives our team of experienced MMO developers — from the same studio developing New World — tremendous opportunity to play and create,” Amazon said back in 2019.

Lord of the Rings MMO was set to be a free-to-play title. Specific platforms were never announced.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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Get ready to explore Middle-earth in a brand new way. Amazon Game Studios has announced it is working on a free-to-play The Lord of the Rings MMO. While it will be for “consoles and PC,” specific platforms were not named at this time. In addition, the currently-unnamed online title does not have a release date, suggesting it could be a ways away.

The MMO will take place in the “Middle-earth portrayed in The Lord of the Rings literary trilogy,” which means this project will be based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novels, as opposed to the Peter Jackson films. Amazon is collaborating with Leyou Technologies and Middle-earth Enterprises on the project.

If you may recall, this project was actually announced about a year ago by Leyou subsidiary Athlon Games. At the time, Amazon, which is leading the project, was not attached. Amazon is also working on a The Lord of the Rings television series, though it has already been confirmed that the two projects will not be connected. Amazon Game Studios Vice President Christoph Hartmann, who joined in 2018, called the project a “tremendous opportunity.”

The team working on the project already has a storied lineage. Veterans from projects like World of Warcraft, Everquest, and Destiny are all contributing to this online title. Unfortunately, a lot of information involving this title is a mystery. There’s no indication how far along this project is at this time.

Interestingly, there already is a MMO based on The Lord of the Rings: the PC-only The Lord of the Rings Online. Whether this Amazon-backed project will have any sort of impact on that is unknown.

The Lord of the Rings is rapidly expanding its place in the world of video games. There are, of course, the Monolith-developed Middle-Earth games. In addition, a narrative-focused adventure, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, is coming from Daedalic Entertainment.

[Source: IGN]

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