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New World Is Shutting Down — Your Last-Year Survival Plan (for Players and Guilds)

ggame play

2026-01-31

11 min read

Practical survival plan for New World players and guilds: archive achievements, distribute treasury, pursue refunds, and migrate your community in 2026.

New World Is Shutting Down — Your Last-Year Survival Plan (for Players and Guilds)

Hook: If you log in and feel the world is quieter than it used to be, you’re not alone — Amazon Game Studios announced New World will close its servers in 2026, and the next 12 months are a last chance to secure your legacy, salvage value, and keep your community intact. This guide gives a practical, chronological checklist and strategic playbook for players and guilds who want to make the most of the shutdown year.

Top priorities first: what to do in the next 30 days

When a live game announces shutdown, time is the scarcest resource. Start with the essentials: protect accounts, archive proof, and convert fragile in‑game wealth into durable outcomes.

1. Secure your accounts and payments

Change passwords on your Amazon/Game account, Steam (if you used it), and your email. Enable two‑factor authentication everywhere.
Download purchase receipts and take screenshots of your store transaction history (Steam receipts, Amazon purchase history, credit card charges). These will matter if you seek refunds or contest charges later.
Check linked platforms: identify whether cosmetics, founder packs, or DLC were bought through Steam, Amazon, console stores, or the standalone client — refund policies differ by platform.

2. Archive in‑game achievements and progress

For players, achievements, rarities, and prestige are the story you carry forward. You can’t usually export character models, but you can create a durable record.

Screenshots: take high‑res screenshots of your character, inventory screens with timestamps, achievement lists, titles, and leaderboard positions. Use the in‑game UI to show player names, gear, and stats in one frame.
Video capture: capture short highlight reels with OBS, GeForce Experience, or console capture. Record your favorite raids, arena wins, world PvP clips, and guild events. Save raw clips and a short edited highlights reel for social sharing.
Metadata: in a simple text file alongside each screenshot/video, log the server name, character name, timestamps, and the context (e.g., “My first 60 with full voidbent — Rest in Aeternum — 2026‑02‑04”).
Achievement lists: if the UI shows unlocked achievements, take sequential screenshots or copy them into a doc. Where possible, export small screenshots of each achievement tooltip that proves rarity.

3. Liquidate or convert in‑game wealth (carefully)

Not all items will convert to lasting value, but you can turn ambiguous inventory into things that matter: gold, cosmetics, and community goodwill.

Use the Trading Post: list high‑value items you don’t need. If player markets are still healthy, convert rare drops and materials into gold — gold is portable and can be split.
Spend thoughtfully: if certain purchases are permanent cosmetics that can be used as mementos, they’re worth keeping. Avoid panic‑buying; hoarding a single high‑value item can become a bottleneck when you have to distribute value.
Avoid account sales: selling accounts or handing credentials to strangers is against most EULAs and invites scams. Instead, distribute items to trusted members or use community giveaways with transparent logs.

Guild survival playbook: preserve culture, treasury, and structure

Guilds are social capital. The way you handle treasury, leadership transition, and member migration will determine whether your community survives beyond Aeternum.

4. Record your guild’s identity

Export the charter: copy your guild charter, bylaws, and role descriptions into a shared Google Doc or GitHub repo. Include founding stories, major wins, and ranked rosters.
Roster backup: screenshot member lists with roles and contribution stats. Export Discord roles using server templates or bots only with member consent — document privacy choices.
Guildhall and map markers: take in‑game screenshots of your company territory, strongholds, and notable landmarks. These make powerful artefacts for a digital time capsule.

5. Treasury & asset distribution: a fair, legal checklist

Guild treasuries often hold the biggest sources of conflict. Handle distribution transparently and in line with your guild rules.

Inventory audit: compile a public spreadsheet of the company chest: gold, materials, bound items, tradeable items. Update it weekly.
Democratic vote: hold a recorded vote (Discord poll + text log) on how to use treasury funds: 1) fund community migration to a new game, 2) distributed prizes to members, 3) donated to charity, or 4) saved for farewell events. Keep vote results stored publicly.
Planned giveaways: instead of mass auctions (which invite scamming), run scheduled raffles or merit‑based rewards with clear rules and public logs.
Legal caution: don’t promise refunds or money back to members unless you have clear financial authority and legal clarity. Avoid off‑game money trading that violates EULA or regional laws.

6. Leadership succession & continuity plan

Decide who will be the “custodian” of the guild legacy: someone who preserves records and coordinates migration.

Appoint a Legacy Officer: a small trusted team responsible for archives, social media, and migration logistics.
Set clear responsibilities: who handles member outreach, treasury execution, event planning, and the public archives? Document each task with deadlines.
Public roadmap: publish a timeline: “Phase 1: archive & liquidate (Months 0–3), Phase 2: farewell events & distribute treasury (Months 3–9), Phase 3: migrate community (Months 9–12).”

Archiving — making memories last in and beyond 2026

Archiving is about both evidence and emotion. In 2026, community archiving movements accelerated during several shutdowns — and adopting established tools now will ensure your story persists.

7. Technical and public archiving tools

Wayback & Web Archives: use the Internet Archive’s Save Page Now for guild websites, wiki pages, and important forum threads. Create public snapshots for posterity.
Static pages & GitHub Pages: build a small static site or GitHub Pages repo to host your guild history, image galleries, and downloadable zips of media. This is durable and low cost.
Cloud backups: organize photos, clips, and docs into dated folders on Google Drive/Dropbox and mirror to an external hard drive. Consider long‑term cold storage for sentimental items.
Discord backups: use official server templates to preserve role structure and channel layout. For message history, use respectful exports with member consent; many communities create “highlights” channels for key posts.

8. Public storytelling: highlight reels & oral histories

Archiving loses meaning unless it’s shared. Create a narrative your members are proud to carry into future games.

Make a documentary playlist: short 2–5 minute videos of top raids, major sieges, and interviews with founding members.
Oral history collection: schedule 15‑minute interviews with veterans; publish transcripts. These personal accounts are invaluable to community historians.
Social snapshot: pin a “Legacy Post” on Reddit, Twitter/X, and Mastodon that summarizes the guild’s story and links to archives.

Monetary recourse & refunds: what to expect and how to act

Shutdowns sometimes prompt players to seek refunds. Policies vary by platform and region — here’s a practical path you can follow.

9. Where to start: documents and timelines

Collect evidence: receipts, timestamps, screenshots of purchases, and the official shutdown announcement. Put them in one folder labeled REFUNDS_2026.
Platform check: locate where each purchase was made (Steam, Amazon, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, in‑game purchase system). Refund eligibility and window differ.

10. Refund tactics by platform (practical steps)

Steam purchases: file a refund request via Steam Support for recent purchases. Emphasize that the game will be deprecated and attach supporting evidence if Steam grants exceptions for shutdowns.
Amazon/AGS client purchases: submit a support ticket to Amazon Games support with order IDs and ask for clarity on store credit or refunds. Keep polite, concise records of all replies.
Console purchases: contact platform support (Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo) for in‑store purchases. These stores sometimes handle refunds for discontinued services on a case‑by‑case basis.
Microtransactions and cosmetics: these are the hardest to recover. Still, submit requests for recent large purchases and be persistent with support escalation if you spent significant money in the last 30–90 days.

11. Escalations and consumer protections (use as needed)

Legal frameworks vary. In 2026 the EU has strengthened consumer protections for digital goods, and some national authorities have started to take a firmer line on disappearing services. In the US the situation is more decentralized.

File chargebacks carefully: talk to your card issuer about a chargeback only after support avenues are exhausted — banks favor documented attempts at resolution first.
Regulatory complaints: in the EU or UK, a formal complaint to a consumer protection agency can move larger publishers. Check your local consumer protection websites for templates.
Public pressure: coordinated social posts and organized consumer complaints can spur platform action — but remain factual and avoid defamation.

Community transition: migrating players and esports talent

Players and competitive teams will want to move quickly. Make it easy for your members to carry skills and reputations to new homes.

12. Create a migration plan

Survey members: use a simple Google Form to ask where members want to go next, their platform preferences, time zones, and commitment level.
Pick target games: by early 2026, many New World players migrated to established MMOs and competitive PvP titles. Encourage trials of multiple games, then consolidate into one or two targets for organized activities.
Host cross‑game events: schedule weekly gatherings in the new target title for a few months to rebuild cohesion.

13. For PvP/Esports players: documenting your competitive CV

Create a competitive portfolio: compile match replays, ranked stats, team rosters, and highlight reels in a single public folder. This is gold when trying out for teams in other games.
Network smartly: list contact methods for teammates, managers, and scrim partners. Keep the roster public so future recruiters can verify claims.

Practical checklists you can copy & paste

Player 30‑day checklist

Change passwords & enable 2FA
Download receipts and take purchase screenshots
Screenshot character, inventory, achievements
Record 2–3 highlight clips (raw + edited)
List top 10 items to sell on Trading Post
Decide which cosmetics to keep as mementos

Guild 90‑day checklist

Export charter, roles, and roster
Audit treasury and publish spreadsheet
Hold a transparent vote on treasury use
Plan farewell events and create an archival site
Appoint a Legacy Officer team

Ethics, scams, and long‑term reputation

When games die, scams and bad actors spike. Protect your members and your reputation.

Beware of ‘account buyers’ and escrow scams: never hand login details to unknown parties. Use recorded, public processes for any asset transfers.
Respect privacy: don’t publish member data without consent. When archiving chat logs or interviews, get explicit permission.
Keep records: public logs of votes and treasury moves protect you from allegations and preserve the guild’s honor.

"Games Should Never Die" — a sentiment echoed across the scene in early 2026, and it explains why communities rushed to archive memories and plan exits when New World’s shutdown was announced.

Future‑proofing: what parts of your New World legacy will matter in 2026 and beyond?

As live‑service closures became more common through late 2025 and early 2026, communities learned to preserve three things: evidence of achievement, relational networks, and portable reputations. Those are the assets you should prioritize.

Evidence: screenshots, videos, and receipts — the immutable proof of what you accomplished.
Networks: Discord/Matrix servers and email lists keep people together after a game ends.
Reputation: competitive records, guild roles, and community leadership translate to influence in new games and projects.

Final actionable takeaways — 6 things to do this week

Change passwords & back up receipts to a secure folder.
Take high‑res screenshots of character, achievement list, and guild roster.
Capture at least two highlight clips and upload them to YouTube/Cloud with descriptive titles and dates.
Create a public guild archive on GitHub Pages or a simple static site and mirror it to the Internet Archive.
Audit the guild treasury and run a transparent vote on distribution plans.
Ask members where they want to migrate — consolidate into a migration roadmap.

Closing: hold the line on community, not just pixels

New World’s closure is a loss for many, but it’s also an opportunity to show how resilient gaming communities are. Your achievements and friendships don’t have to vanish with the servers. Take the practical steps above: secure proof, protect your assets, plan your guild’s future, and be methodical about refunds. The way you handle this final year will define your community’s reputation for years to come.

Call to action: Start today — download your receipts, take a screenshot, and post it in your guild’s legacy channel. Then share your top tips, templates, and archival links with the wider New World community on Reddit and Discord to help others. If your guild wants a migration template or a free static archive setup, drop your server invite and we’ll post a starter repo you can fork.

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