'New World' update: Amazon implements new AFK detection solution, ‘more harsh penalties’ await for repeat offenders

“New World” has been out for less than a week, but its server issues appear to have resulted in more issues that may have exacerbated the long queues in joining the game. For one, players have been complaining of others who reportedly bypass the game’s “away from keyboard” (AFK) timer without getting detected. Amazon Games has now announced a new solution to address the issue and said harsher sanctions await for repeat offenders.

Most of the reports about “New World” since it launched last Sept. 28 have been about the game’s server issues. There has been an apparent mismatch between the number of players trying to join the new massively multiplayer online and the game’s servers’ capacity. Amazon added new worlds in the first few days that the game was out, but many gamers still reported experiencing hours-long queues. And those who managed to finally join a world seem to not want to leave the game to avoid waiting in queues again even though they are not actively playing the entire time.

In a post on the “New World” forums, Amazon said the new AFK detection solution is designed to “identify and action against bad faith AFK players.” The developer did not provide the details on how the new system works but said, “We have every confidence that players who are playing New World normally will not experience any issues.”

Amazon said the new AFK detection solution would “quick kick” players back to the main menu, and repeating this violation could result in more sanctions. “If the behavior continues, more harsh penalties will be applied,” the “New World” developer said.

It appears that the new detection system is not fully out on “New World” yet, so AFK players might still manage to trick the game. But the developer said it is “dedicated” to release this update as soon as developers feel “comfortable” about the new solution.

“New World” has had AFK detection in place from the beginning, and some reports say the AFK timer is set to remove players in 25 minutes. However, others have reportedly been creative in rigging the system. By simply placing something to weigh down the W key on their computer just so their character would run around can purportedly help players stay in the game even though they may be AFK.

The matter has sparked debates online on whether or not AFK players who do not necessarily use cheat codes or software to bypass the “New World” AFK detection deserve to be punished. But with the recent announcement, it appears that Amazon is in favor of giving AFK players the boot regardless of how they do it.