When Amazon first announced New World, it initially planned to release the MMO in May 2020. Earlier this year, the company delayed the game to August 25th due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a kind of apology for the latest delay, people who signed up for New World‘s open beta, pre-ordered the game or took part in its alpha test will be able to play the RPG in its current state for “a limited period” starting on August 25th.  

The delay comes a week-and-a-half after Amazon took the unusual step of rolling back the availability of its hero-based shooter Crucible following a rough launch. As of July 1st, the game is once again in closed beta so that developer Relentless can polish its gameplay. Amazon Games has been working on New World for more than four years. With how much massively online games cost to develop, it’s understandable that the studio would want to take more time to give the project a chance at success.      

Amazon’s Crucible had a rough launch, to put it mildly, and the developers are taking the unusual step of rolling back the game’s availability to give it a second chance. Relentless and Amazon are returning the multiplayer shooter to closed beta as of July 1st. It’ll still be available through Steam to play around the clock for testers, but there will be scheduled sessions where developers will join the fray and ask for feedback. Relentless will also work “especially closely” with a community council with beta members of varying skill levels and play styles to shape the mechanics.

Anyone who wants to be part of the beta can download the game before July 1st at 12PM Eastern. If you’re too late, you can still sign up at the Crucible website.

Do you think that Amazon’s Crucible needs some polish before it can compete with the current crop of team-based shooters? So does Amazon. The Relentless Studios development team has extended (via Eurogamer and PCGamesN) the title’s pre-season period indefinitely until players get the “features and polish” they’ve been asking for, including voice chat. On top of this, the team is refining Crucible’s focus in a dramatic fashion — it’s “retiring” the Alpha Hunters and Command modes in favor of just one mode, Heart of the Hives.

The change of direction will be split into two phases, Relentless said. An initial phase will “build and iterate” on core aspects by adding must-have features like the previously mentioned voice chat as well as a wider ping system, a surrender system, dealing with idle players and a possible mini-map. The second phase, meanwhile, will bring “additional systems” and refinements such as tailoring the map and upgrading creatures.

The game has also launched with three game modes. “Heart of the Hives” is a 4 vs. 4 battle mode against giant boss Hives that spawn throughout the world, while the “Alpha Hunters” mode pits eight teams of two against each other. Finally, in “Harvester Command” mode, two teams of eight battle to capture and activate essence harvesters across the map.

Amazon Games has also kicked off an 8-week Pre-Season period for the game, allowing players to learn skills and hone strategies before Season 1 begins. Early players can use the 1,000 Credits they earn to redeem in-game items, as well as a Pre-Season Battle Pass for 950 Credits. Crucible is now out for North American players, with other regions to follow. Those who aren’t quite into shooters and prefer RPGs, however, may want to wait for New World, Amazon’s MMORPG that’s scheduled for launch on August 25th.

Crucible is now available to North American players. Players across the world will be able to play soon. We’ll keep you updated!

— Crucible (@PlayCrucible) May 20, 2020

Amazon Games

There’ll be three modes at the outset. Heart of the Hives pits two four-player teams against each other as well as large boss hives that pop up throughout the map. Each hive contains a heart, and the first team to snag three wins the game. In Harvester Command, two squads of eight players will race to earn 100 points by holding control of Essence Harvesters. Alpha Hunters, meanwhile, is a mini-battle royale for eight pairs of hunters. Last duo standing wins.

You won’t only have to deal with your opponents, but dangers that the hostile planet you’re based on lobs your way. The hero-focused gameplay may be somewhat familiar if you’re au fait with the likes of Overwatch, Valorant, Apex Legends and Team Fortress 2, though Essence and environmental hazards might bring fresh twists to Crucible. It remains to be seen exactly how the game will tie into Twitch, which Amazon owns.

Crucible will be available on Steam. It’s the first AAA title from Amazon, which also plans to release another major title in August, the long-awaited MMO New World. The company is also working on a cloud gaming platform called Project Tempo that could compete with Google Stadia, GeForce Now and Project xCloud.

Amazon Games