Amazon Finally Launches ‘New World’

Amazon has struggled to gain purchase as a video game producer, but it’s seeking to reverse its fortunes with “New World.” 

The open-world game, released Tuesday for $40, has received strong reviews and seen promising early sales numbers from limited prereleases.

• Amazon said it had over 1 million sales during a two-week test period over the summer, making it the top-selling game on Steam at that time.
• A previous big-budget release, “Crucible,” peaked at 25,000 players before Amazon scrapped the project.
• The company is spending around $500 million annually on gaming.

Amazon is also building out the capabilities of Twitch, the streaming platform it bought in 2014 for around $1 billion. Twitch made approximately $2.3 billion in revenue last year.

The tech giant filed a patent for technology that would superimpose a video game streamer’s face onto the character they are controlling, with real-time facial expressions corresponding to the player’s. The feature could be used to enhance the streaming experience and potentially in metaverse platforms.

The company rolled out a slew of new products on Tuesday, including a home robot and a video conferencing device for children that includes games.

Amazon also added a fitness class service and a nutrition plan provider to its $3.99 per month Halo subscription service, which integrates with its Halo fitness wearables.