Shipping giant Amazon is working on a new MMORPG New World. A leaked trailer now shows concept art hinting at an unusual setting: a mix of colonial times with horror elements.
Most MMORPGs are set in a fantasy world resembling our medieval Europe with a touch of orcs, magic, and dragons. When MMORPGs deviate from such settings, they tend to lean towards science fiction with alien races instead of fantasy creatures and blasters instead of swords.
New World with a new setting in the MMORPG genre
Amazon’s new MMORPG, New World, promised a fresh approach from the very beginning. It was supposed to take place during the colonization of America by Europeans. However, a second aspect is becoming increasingly clear: this will not be a historical setting, but rather it appears to have an unusual horror-fantasy background.
A second leaked trailer, which appeared on Reddit from New World, supports this notion. While it is not entirely certain whether this is actually an official trailer from Amazon that was released too early, the trailer looks credible and fits the official statements we know about New World.
New World takes place in a world where superstition becomes reality
The new trailer showcases concept art that plays with the setting.
A narrator also explains some core elements of “New World.” It states:
- New World takes place in an alternate reality where superstition is a fact. Monsters exist just like magic.
- Players will likely be able to collect artifacts and talismans to protect themselves from restless dead and other spiritual threats.
- It should also be possible to protect the player settlement with protective runes and rituals from dangers.
The trailer indicates a significantly stronger horror-fantasy setting than what was initially expected after the announcement of New World. At that point, it seemed more like the colonial era was the focus. The trailer suggests that the fantasy aspect is being emphasized more strongly.
About three weeks ago, there was already a leak showing gameplay from New World:
