New World, while always boasting a dedicated player base on Steam, hasn’t quite reached the heights of other major MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14, even after its significant Aeternum update and rebrand a year ago. However, that narrative seems to be shifting. With the arrival of a brand-new season, Amazon Games has made a game-changing move: New World’s first and only paid expansion is now completely free for everyone. This bold decision has sparked a massive influx of players, propelling the game to its highest peak player count in almost a year.
Typically, New World’s seasonal updates generate moderate excitement, but player count surges on Steam have rarely been dramatic. The last significant boost occurred when the RPG transformed into New World Aeternum, an enhanced version of the game also slated for consoles. Now, we’re witnessing a similar, perhaps even greater, revitalization.
Season 10 is officially live, packed with exciting new additions. Players can delve into Nighthaven, a new explorable zone with a fittingly eerie atmosphere for the season. A new game mode, The Catacombs, challenges players to survive and conquer bosses within procedurally generated dungeons. Furthermore, a fresh ten-player raid awaits, and both the level cap and gear score have been increased to 70 and 800, respectively, offering plenty of progression for dedicated adventurers.
However, the real magnet drawing many original New World players back is the ‘Rise of the Angry Earth’ expansion. Originally launched in October 2023 as paid content, it introduced highly anticipated features like rideable mounts, a new region, and more.
When New World transitioned to Aeternum, new purchases of the game included the ‘Rise of the Angry Earth’ content. However, veteran players who had been with the game since launch didn’t receive this benefit automatically. That has now changed.
The ‘Rise of the Angry Earth’ expansion is now free for anyone who never purchased the add-on or began playing after the Aeternum update. For those who did purchase the DLC within the last 30 days, a full refund will be processed automatically via Steam, ensuring fairness for recent buyers.
This powerful combination of Season 10 and the newly free ‘Rise of the Angry Earth’ expansion has caused New World’s player count to surge dramatically, reaching levels reminiscent of its Aeternum overhaul. On October 13, the game achieved a peak Steam count of 41,000 concurrent players, marking its highest since October 28, 2024.
The crucial question now is whether New World can sustain this renewed engagement. While previous spikes have often been fleeting, the compelling content of Season 10 and the unexpected gift of a major expansion make this an exceptionally appealing moment for players to return to, or even discover, the world of Aeternum.
For those eager to dive into everything New World Season 10 has to offer, detailed patch notes are available on the game’s official website. If Aeternum doesn’t quite capture your imagination, there are many fantastic fantasy games that offer similar immersive experiences without the typical MMORPG commitments. Alternatively, consider exploring some excellent co-op games for thrilling boss battles with friends.
Don’t forget to join our gaming community on Discord to discuss your current favorite MMORPGs and other exciting titles!