Arrive, survive, and thrive on the mysterious island of Aeternum during the Confidential Console Closed Beta. With the test arriving this week, we wanted to share some additional details on what participants can expect. For players that missed the announcement, a brief overview can be found below. For those who signed up and have been selected, learn about the focus of the Confidential Console Closed Beta and discover key test details in the ‘Test Focus’ section. All feedback will culminate in an even better launch experience on October 15.

TEST OVERVIEW

We are excited for players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S to carve their destiny in the Confidential Console Closed Beta on July 25 at 9:00 a.m. PT (4:00 p.m. UTC) through July 31 at 9:00 a.m. PT (4:00 p.m. UTC). This invite-only, cross-play test will let console players in North America and Europe customize a character, experiment with unique weapons, and explore vast, supernatural zones. Players will also have the opportunity to try endgame content.

Want to join the test but didn’t sign up or receive a code? A limited number of codes may still be available through giveaways on our partner sites: MMORPG.com, MassivelyOP.com, MMOs.com, MMOBomb.com, GamerPower.com, FreeMMOStation.com, MMOHuts.com, OnRPG.com, Gamerant.com, and TheGamer.com.

This is a confidential playtest of New World: Aeternum on console, and your participation in this pre-release test is subject to the Non-Disclosure Agreement in Section 2.8 of our Terms of Use. By participating, you agree to keep it strictly confidential. You may not disclose, in any form, content from this playtest. This means no streaming, posting of videos, or sharing images from this pre-release version of the game. Any breach of confidentiality will be treated seriously.

TEST GOALS

To help us deliver the best possible experience at launch, we’ll review large-scale, simultaneous new player onboarding, plus participant feedback on the first-time user experience and endgame features. We want to hear your feedback on as many features and systems as possible, so please share your thoughts.

Feedback can be shared either through:

1. The in-game feedback tool, accessible via the game settings menu.

2. A private Discord server used exclusively for this test. Players that have been selected for the Confidential Console Closed Beta will receive a Discord invitation alongside their beta code via email. Only invited players will be able to access the private Discord server. Due to the Non-Disclosure Agreement, discussion about the Confidential Console Closed Beta will not be supported in the Official New World Discord server.

The Confidential Console Closed Beta will be broken up into two phases:

NEW PLAYER EXPERIENCE (PHASE 1): JULY 25, 9 A.M. PT

Get a feel for the New World: Aeternum console experience that players can expect at launch. There will be some minor quality of life adjustments to take into account the short test window:

• We will disable the standard 72hr Chat cooldown whenever a new character is made.

ENDGAME EXPERIENCE (PHASE 2): JULY 28, 7:00 A.M. PT

Create a new character and select one of our level 65 presets to receive endgame gear, powerful weapons, max level attribute points, and full weapon masteries. Participation in Phase 2 is optional. Players can either use a level 65 preset to create a new character or continue to level their original character from Phase 1.

EVENT SCHEDULE

During the Confidential Console Closed Beta, there will be limited time events for players to test specific features on the NA server. EU players that want to participate must log into the NA world:

INFLUENCE RACES: JULY 28 – 3 P.M. PT

• Capture Influence Towers and strike down enemy Factions in open-world combat for territorial supremacy.

• Join by flagging for PvP and traveling to a territory with an active Influence Race. Open the Conflicts menu from the Map to view active and upcoming Influence Races.

• Level 65 character required for this test.

OUTPOST RUSH: JULY 29 – 4 P.M. PT

• Fight to capture and hold 3 Outposts with a group of 20 players. Gather resources to build your defenses and unlock tactical benefits for your team.

• Join by queuing for Outpost Rush from the Activities menu.

• Level 65 character required for this test.

LAWLESS PVP ZONE: JULY 30 – 4 P.M. PT

• Enter a free-for-all, PvPvE zone. Gather rewards and resources from chests, monsters, and rival players. Players must then escape any fellow looters to claim their spoils.

• Join by traveling to the southwestern area of Cutlass Keys (marked in blue on the Map).

• Level 65 character recommended for this test.

GAME OVERVIEW

 

Carve your destiny on the cursed island of Aeternum. Set during the twilight of the Age of Exploration, you embark on an arduous journey in search of rumored riches, but encounter the island’s mysterious wrath. Uncover the truth behind Aeternum’s dark secrets, navigate its strange inhabitants, and pursue perilous opportunities alongside your fellow Adventurers. What story will you bring to the Eternal Isle?

This enhanced version of our thrilling action RPG is a fresh and compelling experience for both PC and console players. It includes the New World base game, the Rise of the Angry Earth expansion, and all update content, like Brimstone Sands, plus a fully revamped storytelling approach with enhanced dialogue, in-game cinematics and pre-rendered scenes, the first-ever large-scale PvP zone, a challenging 10-player raid, new endgame solo trials, and more.

Check out our New World: Aeternum announcement for more details on the story, features, and gameplay.

FAQ

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Confidential Console Closed Beta:

• Will players be able to pre-download the game before the start of the Confidential Console Closed Beta?

  • Players who are accepted into the beta will be able to download the game starting on July 23 at 9 a.m. PT.

    • Note: The game servers will be in maintenance mode until the beta starts on July 25 at 9 a.m. PT.

• Will PC players be able to participate in the Confidential Console Closed Beta?

  • The Confidential Console Closed Beta test will not be available on PC. Because console platforms are new to New World: Aeternum, we need detailed performance data that is specific to the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 platforms. As we get closer to the October 15 launch of New World: Aeternum, there will be a testing opportunity for PC players to get their hands on the game before it launches. Stay tuned for more information.

• Will Xbox and PlayStation players be able to play together during the Confidential Console Closed Beta?

  • Yes. Console to console cross-play will be available during the Confidential Console Closed Beta. Platform-only worlds will be available when the game releases later this year.

  • There will be no Voice Chat support in game for Closed Beta. Xbox and PlayStation platform Voice Chat will be available.

• Will an online subscription for Xbox and PlayStation be required to play in the Confidential Console Closed Beta?

  • No. Players will not need an online subscription for either platform to participate.

• Is there any content not available during the Confidential Console Closed Beta?

  • The first four prerendered cinematics, PvP Wars, the Hive of Gorgons Raid, group Trial content (Sandwurm, Hatchery, Winter Rune Forge), Invasions, Leaderboards, the in-game Store, and the Season Pass will not be accessible during the test. Players will also not be able to purchase Marks of Fortune.

  • This test will include 3 of our 12 Expeditions: The Amrine Excavation, Starstone Barrows, and Tempest’s Heart. All 12, plus Mutated Expeditions, will be available when the game releases later this year.

• Will progression from the Confidential Console Closed Beta carry over to the full release?

  • No. All progression from Confidential Console Closed Beta will be wiped at the end of the test.

• What languages will the Confidential Console Closed Beta be localized into?

  • The Confidential Console Closed Beta will have full English text and voiceovers.

• Are Confidential Console Closed Beta codes region-specific?

  • We will have servers located in US East and Central Europe to support players in North America and Europe.

    • For Xbox, Confidential Console Closed Beta codes can be redeemed in any region globally.

    • For PlayStation, Confidential Console Closed Beta codes are region-specific and can only be redeemed in the following countries:

      • North America: USA and Canada.

      • Europe: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.