Important Changes in Amazon Games Business

Hello Games Team,

Today, significant changes are underway in our Games division at Amazon. While you may have already read Beth Galetti’s earlier note regarding the company-wide changes, I wanted to provide more insights into the specific strategic shifts happening in our Games sector.

In recent months, we have been reevaluating our future plans, focusing on our mission to deliver exceptional gaming experiences to customers while leveraging Amazon’s core strengths. We believe that by aligning with these principles, we can make a meaningful impact on customers that aligns with Amazon’s scale. The recent launch of Luna exemplifies this approach, combining streaming entertainment and benefits for Prime members to offer a diverse gaming experience.

After careful consideration of the gaming industry landscape, we have decided to discontinue a significant portion of our first-party AAA game development work, particularly in MMOs, at Amazon Game Studios. This decision has led to role reductions in our Irvine and San Diego studios, as well as within our central publishing team.

Despite these changes, our game development initiatives continue. The Montreal studio recently concluded a successful closed alpha of March of Giants and is progressing with the game’s development. Additionally, Studio 5 launched “Courtroom Chaos: Starring Snoop Dogg” on Luna, with a focus on casual and AI-driven games. We are also collaborating with Crystal Dynamics on an upcoming “Tomb Raider” title and Maverick Games on an open-world driving game.

Throughout the day, Christoph and Jeff will provide more details on how these changes will impact you and your teams. Impacted employees in most countries have already been informed, with notifications to follow in our other global hubs.

We understand that days like these are challenging, and the loss of team members who have contributed significantly to our customers is difficult. These decisions, though tough, are essential for the progress of our business.

If you have any specific questions, please reach out to your manager or HRBP.

Thank you,

Steve