When Amazon Games released New World in 2021, the open-world MMO took Steam and streaming by storm, becoming one of the most popular and highest-grossing new releases at the time.
In October of that same year, the game averaged over 400,000 players and peaked at over 900,000 and was one of the most watched games on stream, thanks in no small part to the popular viewer drop system.
As with any online multiplayer game though, it can be hard to keep a player base engaged for an extended period of time given how much competition is out there and how small an average game’s attention span is. But small resurgences have been common, such as the ongoing one with the new Rise of the Angry Earth expansion, which has caused New World to reach a 50,000-player peak for the first time in 2023.
If you haven’t jumped into New World yet, but are curious about what potential monthly costs would be, then we’ve got you covered with the critical info.
Does New World require a monthly subscription?
No, New World does not require an active monthly subscription to play. Traditionally, many MMORPG games such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV require a monthly subscription to access the game. These subscription fees can add up over time and often outweigh the original retail price of the game after just a few months.
Once you’ve purchased either the standard or deluxe version of New World, you won’t have to worry about any additional fees.
This game does not require a monthly subscription to continue playing.
Does New World have paid seasonal content or paid expansion?
New World debuted a paid seasonal model in 2023, starting with Fellowship & Fire which began in February. Season two, Blood of the Sands, ended Oct. 3, titled Rise of the Angry Earth, starts on Oct. 4. The premium path of a New World season pass costs $20, and you must be level 25 to access seasons in New World.
There is a free path of rewards for each season as well.
Several online multiplayer games, namely free-to-play ones, feature paid seasonal content in the form of a battle pass players pay to access in order to unlock additional rewards during a season.
New World does sell paid expansions that feature additional content. The Rise of the Angry Earth expansion that was released on Oct. 3 costs $30. Brand new players can get New World and the new expansion, which are usually $30 each, bundled together for $46 on Steam at the moment to celebrate the launch.
