Amazon Job Cuts Hit Video Games Division As Strategy Leans Into What “Amazon Does Best”

Core Insights - Amazon is undergoing significant layoffs in its video game development and publishing divisions, particularly affecting its studios in San Diego and Irvine, as part of a strategic reevaluation of its gaming business [1][6] - The company has decided to halt a substantial portion of its first-party AAA game development, especially in the MMO segment, which reflects a broader shift in strategy within Amazon Games [1][6] - The recent launch of Luna, Amazon's new gaming platform, emphasizes a focus on streaming entertainment and delivering value to Prime members, indicating a pivot towards integrating gaming with Amazon's broader service offerings [3][5] Company Strategy - The company is critically assessing the evolving dynamics of the gaming industry and competitive landscape, leading to the decision to reduce roles in its game studios and central publishing team [1][6] - Amazon aims to deliver the best gaming experiences while leveraging its strengths, as demonstrated by the launch of Luna with a catalog of social party games and AAA titles [5][6] - Despite the cuts, Amazon continues to develop games, with ongoing projects like March of Giants and collaborations with external studios for upcoming titles [7] Impact on Employees - The layoffs are part of a larger corporate restructuring, with notifications already sent to most affected employees, while others will follow local processes [8] - The company acknowledges the difficulty of these changes and the impact on team members who have contributed significantly to its gaming efforts [9]