Amazon’s Video Game Division Experiences Layoffs
Amazon, the retail and media giant, has recently made around 100 layoffs within its video game divisions, including staff at Prime Gaming, Game Growth, and the company’s San Diego studio. The news was revealed in an internal memo sent to employees by Games VP Christoph Hartmann, which stated that the company needed to realign its resources to “support our focus on content”.
However, the layoffs do not mean that Amazon’s video game division is no longer growing. Hartmann’s memo also indicated that the teams would continue to grow as the projects progress, and that the San Diego studio was preparing to “double down on the pre-production phase” of an unannounced project. Additionally, the company’s Montreal studio will also continue to expand.
In addition to internal development, Amazon also has plans to continue branching into the world of third-party publishing. The company has previously partnered with Korean studio Smilegate to publish Lost Ark in North America and Europe, and recently revealed that it will be publishing Crystal Dynamic’s next Tomb Raider title. Amazon also acquired the publishing rights to NCSoft’s upcoming MMO, Throne & Liberty, in February this year.
Although Amazon has experienced recent layoffs in its video game division, the company is still committed to investing in the development and publishing of video games. With more projects in the pipeline, Amazon is sure to make an impact in the video game industry.