Weekly Authority: Edition #162 – Android Authority

Amazon:

• Amazon’s fall hardware event saw the launch of the new Echo Show 15, a new Amazon Smart Thermostat, and more – although the star of the show was undoubtedly Astro, Amazon’s little Wall-E type robot.

Apple:

Samsung:

Google:

Elsewhere:

Films / television:

To play:

Unless you lived under a rock, you know that Amazon Games’ MMORPG New World finally launched on Tuesday after a long delay. You might even be one of the 20,000 players queued for server access this week.

New World is “greatest video game hope so far” according to Amazon The New York Times. But it is nowhere near the game studio’s first foray into gaming.

• Amazon Games (formerly Amazon Game Studios) first announced its foray into video games in 2014.
• The first three PC games were launched in 2016: Breakaway, which was discontinued in 2018, Crucible, which launched in 2020, and New World, its latest release.
• After a delayed start, Crucible went back to closed beta last July, and the servers were shut down last November while the development team was working on New World.

The company was also involved in the development of a Lord of the Rings MMO game, but it was canceled in the spring of 2021.

Amazon already has three development studios in Seattle, Orange County, and San Diego. In March 2021, it opened a new studio in Montreal run by former Ubisoft Montreal members who worked on Rainbow Six: Siege.

The many styles of the New World

New World has already come under fire for being a mish-mash of ideas and art styles inspired by other MMORPGs. There is more to it, however, and some of the inspirations behind the artwork make for really interesting read.

Set in the world of Aeternum – which would have given the game a better name – New World takes place in an alternate 17th century aptly known as the “Age of Exploration.”

• You will explore a lot in New World, although your first line of quests will focus on making some basic tools and collecting crafting materials and resources.
• Figuring out what to do first is part of the fun of an MMORPG, but plenty of guides and gameplay walkthroughs have popped up online if you need a nudge in the right direction.

Is new world good?

If you can get past the server queues, then you can just find out. However, the first impression is positive:

• IGN gets “strong Witcher 3 vibes” and mentions the “downright gorgeous” graphics in its ongoing review.
• Over at PC Gamer, Fraser Brown, the UK online editor, can’t decide whether he’s having a great time or is downright bored …
• Meanwhile, reviews on Steam are mixed, with 53% of gamers giving the game a positive rating.

New World is available on Steam and Amazon for $ 39.99 (£ 34.99) for the standard version or $ 49.99 (£ 43.99) for the deluxe edition – no subscription required to play.

Did you fight your way through the server queues and play New World? We’d love to hear what you think of the game so far.

• 4th of October: Android 12 stable release date
• 5th October: Google event (MagSafe-compatible chargers and accessories, new nest, maps?)
• October 7th: Far Cry 6 Release Date (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, XSX, Stadia)
• 8th October: Nintendo OLED Switch release date
• 12th of October: Back 4 Blood release date (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, XSX, PC)
• October 19: Possible release date for Pixel 6?
• October 21: Huawei event in Vienna, possibly launch of the P50 series

Tech tweet of the week

First this absolutely brilliant moment:

Second, for those who are currently playing New World …

Did I mainly write about it – maybe all of it – because I thought it would be fun for it to appear in the Washington Post? yes https://t.co/1LmDmB9Opo

Have a wonderful week!

Paula Beaton, text editor