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What Players Need to Know About New World's Delisting and Microtransaction Cutoff

mmygaming

2026-01-26

11 min read

New World is delisted — Marks of Fortune purchases stop July 20, 2026. Here’s how to protect purchases, spend wisely, and document ownership before shutdown.

If you’ve invested time and money into New World, this matters — now

Amazon has officially delisted New World: Aeternum, and the studio has confirmed two hard dates you need to act around: Marks of Fortune (the game’s microtransaction currency) will no longer be purchasable starting July 20, 2026, and New World’s servers will remain playable only until January 31, 2027. Purchases of Marks of Fortune made before July 20 will not be refunded, per Amazon’s announcement. That combination — delisting, a currency purchase cutoff, and a fixed shutdown date — creates an urgent window for players who want to protect what they spent and get the most out of their remaining time in Aeternum.

Quick summary (most important facts first)

Delisting: New World is no longer available for new purchases from digital storefronts.
Marks of Fortune cutoff: Purchases of Marks stop on July 20, 2026. After that date you cannot buy the currency from Amazon.
No refunds for Marks: Amazon’s announcement explicitly states refunds will not be offered for Marks of Fortune purchases.
Servers remain live: Players who already own New World can keep playing until January 31, 2027.
Action window: Treat now through July 20 as the primary period to manage microtransactions and currency balances.

Why the cutoff matters to players and the MMO economy

When a live-service game enters its final year, its microtransaction systems, seasonal shops, and any ongoing loyalty programs change from “long-term value” to “immediate consumption.” Marks of Fortune are not just numbers — they’re the store credit that buys cosmetics, pass tiers, time-limited items, and season-exclusive goods. With purchases ending July 20, 2026, the value proposition of every future transaction changes:

Anything you buy after that date (you can’t) would have been short-lived anyway — servers stop working in January 2027.
Items that unlock persistent, account-level perks still expire with the service; there is no continued functionality after shutdown.
Refund policy clarity is crucial: Amazon says no refunds for Marks of Fortune, so the only recourse is smart spending, documentation, and escalating support requests where appropriate.

Practical, prioritized steps every New World player should take before July 20, 2026

Below is a tactical checklist to protect value, document ownership, and prepare for the shutdown. Follow it in order — the first items maximize remaining play value, the later ones preserve evidence and options.

Audit and document all purchases and balances.
- Open your in-game wallet and write down your Marks of Fortune balance, gold, inventory value, and any active season/pass tiers.
- Take time-stamped screenshots showing your balance, receipts from the platform (Steam, Amazon, etc.), and any payment confirmations from your card or PayPal.
- Export transaction history from the storefront (Steam purchase history or Amazon transactions), and save PDFs.
Prioritize spending Marks on items that give you the most usable value now.
- Spend on cosmetics, mounts, or any items you want to use during the remaining months. Prioritize things you’ll enjoy immediately rather than perceived future value.
- Avoid buying microtransactions that are purely “collection-based” unless they’re meaningful to you — everything stops working on January 31, 2027.
- Be careful with items that are trade-locked or account-bound: if you plan a farewell event with your guild, coordinate purchases.
Check item binding rules before you spend.
Some purchases are account-bound, some are character-bound, and some are tradeable. If you intend to share or transfer items before shutdown, confirm the binding rules in-game and plan trades early.
Don’t buy Marks at the last minute if you’re unsure.
Because refunds aren’t available for Marks according to Amazon, don’t spend money you’d regret losing. If you need Marks for a specific seasonal unlock, plan the purchase only after confirming the item’s value to you.
Avoid third-party currency markets and real-money trading.
Those markets spike during shutdown announcements; scams and account theft rise. Stick to official storefronts and document every official purchase.
Save social and community value: guild logs, screenshots, and recordings.
Use the time to archive guild chats, takeover screenshots, achievements, and memorable runs. These are often the only lasting artifacts after a closure.
Check linked subscriptions or loyalty links (Prime, rewards).
If you’re benefiting from Amazon or platform-linked loyalty perks, confirm what happens to those links. Some loyalty rewards are transferable; most are not.
Contact support for edge cases and keep a copy of every reply.
If you believe there’s an erroneous charge or your purchase wasn’t delivered, open a support ticket now and attach your documentation. Record ticket numbers and responses.

What you cannot expect: refunds and ongoing access

Amazon’s announcement makes two things clear: New World will be delisted immediately, and Marks of Fortune purchases will not be refunded. That removes a common expectation and simplifies the decision tree: treat your Marks as non-refundable entertainment credit that must be consumed before the service ends.

What this means legally and practically

Platform refund policies could still apply to the purchase of the game client in some circumstances — check the storefront. For example, some stores offer refunds under limited conditions, but they typically do not cover consumable currencies used in-game.
Consumer protection laws vary by region. In certain jurisdictions (many EU countries, the UK), digital content consumer protections have tightened in 2022–2025, but they generally do not require publishers to refund spent in-game currency if the publisher discontinues a service and discloses it clearly.
If you believe your purchase was misrepresented or a charge was unauthorized, escalate with bank disputes and platform support — but understand that standard chargeback timelines and eligibility may not help with voluntarily purchased consumable currency.

What to spend Marks of Fortune on — prioritized use cases

You can’t get a financial refund, but you can extract maximum enjoyment or lasting community value. Here’s how to prioritize spending between now and July 20, 2026.

High priority (spend first)

Cosmetics and vanity items — visible, immediate rewards you’ll use during farewell runs and endgame events.
Season pass tiers or one-time boosts that unlock now and let you enjoy endgame content. If a pass grants instant consumables you want to use, it’s worth the cost.
Items for group content: consumables that help guilds run final raids or events.

Medium priority

Collectibles with display value — trophies or items you want in screenshots and videos.
Pets or mounts if you’ll be actively playing across multiple characters.

Low priority (buy only if you truly value them)

Items that claim “long-term utility” after shutdown — accept that they’ll become inert after January 31, 2027.
Anything that requires a long grind to be meaningful; focus on items you can enjoy immediately.

If you think you’re owed a refund — escalation steps

Amazon has stated no refunds for Marks of Fortune, but if you think a specific purchase violates terms (e.g., unauthorized charges, erroneous billing), follow this escalation path:

Collect proof: screenshots of balances, payment receipts, timestamps, and support ticket IDs.
Open or continue a ticket with Amazon/Game Support. Paste the purchase IDs and attach your proofs.
If unresolved, escalate to the storefront (Steam, Epic Games Store) with the same evidence.
For payment disputes (unauthorized charges), contact your card issuer or PayPal immediately; provide evidence and file a dispute if appropriate.
If you’re in the EU/UK or another jurisdiction with strong digital protections, contact your local consumer protection agency and provide your ticket transcripts.

Sample support message:
“Hello — I purchased Marks of Fortune on [date] via [store/payment]. After Amazon’s delisting announcement I understand Marks will not be refunded, but my purchase appears to be [duplicate/unauthorized/not delivered]. Attached are screenshots and the transaction ID. Please advise next steps.”

Community options and the realities of “private servers”

When MMOs shut down, community solutions often appear: private servers, emulation projects, or unofficial archives. These can preserve gameplay but come with legal, security, and ethical questions.

Private servers may violate publisher IP and can expose users to account theft or malware. Use caution and don’t hand over account credentials.
Some studios have historically sanctioned community servers or released server code — this is rare and usually occurs only with negotiated settlements.
If preservation matters to you, focus on safe archiving: screenshots, logs, videos, screenshots of achievements and world events. For guidance on repurposing streams into lasting artifacts see Case Study: Repurposing a Live Stream into a Viral Micro‑Documentary.

Context: Why 2025–2026 has accelerated MMO shutdown planning

The late-2025 and early-2026 window saw multiple live-service studios reassess long-term support costs and pivot to maintenance-mode models. Rising infrastructure costs, tighter budget scrutiny after industry layoffs, and shifting player demand for shorter, more polished live experiences have made shutdowns more visible and frequent.

What that means for players: publishers are increasingly setting clear cutoffs and communicating currency policies upfront. The New World example embodies a trend we’ve tracked across the industry in 2025—publishers prefer a controlled sunset with scheduled cutoffs (delisting, currency purchase cutoff, soft shutdown, final offline date) so players can plan. That’s better for player planning, but it doesn’t change the fundamental value loss of virtual goods when a service stops.

Case studies and lessons from prior closures

Past MMO closures (e.g., City of Heroes, other live-service shutdowns) teach the same lessons: act early, document everything, and treat microtransaction currency as consumed entertainment once shutdown is announced. Community-driven farewell events, shared archives, and player-led preservation have produced some of the most meaningful cultural artifacts after closures.

Advanced strategies for players who built real-value economies in-game

If you ran a shop, held valuable crafting recipes, or were a market-maker within New World, follow these advanced steps:

Liquidate high-value inventory into consumables or cosmetics that you and your group will use before shutdown.
Coordinate with guildmates to host final market events — turn static assets into community experiences. For planning micro-events and pop-ups, see Micro‑Events, Pop‑Ups and Fan Commerce: The 2026 Playbook and practical hybrid pop-up kits at 2026 Playbook: Building a High‑ROI Hybrid Pop‑Up Kit.
Record crafting recipes, market prices, and tutorials. These become the historical record and can be reused if community servers ever become feasible.
Don’t attempt large-scale transfers through unauthorized trade loopholes — these are often blocked and could get accounts flagged.

What subscription & loyalty program players should check now

If you used Amazon-linked features (for example, Prime perks or any Amazon rewards tied to the account), verify whether they included New World content and whether those perks are still redeemable. Often these perks are one-off codes or time-limited claims; redeem and document them now.

Checklist:

Redeem any Prime-linked cosmetics or codes immediately.
Check Amazon account purchase history and subscription invoices for proof of purchase.
Confirm whether any loyalty points were earned through New World purchases; move them to other eligible programs if possible.

Predictions and what to watch for in 2026

Looking ahead, expect three patterns to accelerate:

Clearer shutdown roadmaps: Publishers will increasingly provide staged cutoffs (delisting, currency purchase cutoff, soft shutdown, final offline date) so players can plan.
Regulatory attention: Governments and consumer organizations will push for clearer disclosures about in-game currency and shutdown policies; look for updated guidance in the EU and UK in 2026.
Community archiving tools: Player-made preservation projects and tools for archiving assets, logs, and social history will become more polished and prominent.

Final checklist — what to do right now

Take screenshots of balances, receipts, and transaction histories.
Spend Marks of Fortune on things you’ll use and enjoy before January 31, 2027.
Do not buy Marks impulsively after evaluating what you really want.
Avoid third-party gold sellers and private trading markets.
Plan farewell events and preserve community memories.
Open support tickets for any suspected billing issues and keep the transcripts.

Parting advice from players who survived other shutdowns

Communities that treat shutdowns as a final, shared event end up with better memories than those that panic. Spend currency on things that make those memories — costumes for the final screenshots, a guild-run raid, or a series of videos documenting your top moments. Legally, the risk of refunds is low; emotionally, the value of a well-spent farewell is high.

Need help right away?

If you want a tailored plan for your account — what to spend, what to keep, or how to document purchases — our team at mygaming.cloud builds personalized exit strategies for live-service players. We analyze your receipts, audit balances, and give a prioritized spending plan based on your playstyle and guild goals.

Call to action

Don’t wait until July 20. Archive your proof, spend what you value, and protect your account now. Subscribe to mygaming.cloud’s Live-Service Shutdown Guide for step-by-step checklists, downloadable documentation templates, and weekly strategy sessions to make the most of New World’s final months.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.