General Gaming Amazon lays off 180 Games workers, "refocuses" on free games

[crispy4000]

Amazon is getting rid of its gaming content channel amid larger games layoffs - The Verge

WWW.THEVERGE.COM

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Amazon is laying off “just over” 180 employees.

 

Quote

Hello everyone,

I have some important news to share with you all today about the future of our business.

As I’ve shared previously, our goal for Amazon Games is to become one of the leading creators of high-quality gaming content that delights players for years to come. Part of this bold vision involves experimentation as we explore what gamers want most and we regularly review these experiments to ensure we’re creating the most impact.

After our initial restructuring in April, it became clear that we needed to focus our resources even more on the areas that are growing with the highest potential to drive our business forward. As such, the leadership team and I have made the difficult decision to close two of our initiatives – Crown Channel and Game Growth. We are also refocusing our efforts for Prime Gaming. We’ve listened to our customers and we know delivering free games every month is what they want most, so we are refining our Prime benefit to increase our focus there. With these changes in our business approach come changes to our resourcing, resulting in the elimination of just over 180 roles.

I know this is difficult news and that the impact will be felt widely. It never feels good to say goodbye to colleagues. This isn’t a decision the leadership team came to quickly; it was the result of extensive considerations and road mapping for our future. We are proud of the work the teams have been doing, pushing into new areas with weekly content on Crown Channel, and finding more ways to help publishers reach new audiences with Game Growth. But after further evaluation of our businesses, it became clear that we need focus our resources and efforts to deliver great games to players now and in the future.

Each employee whose role has been impacted should now have a live meeting scheduled this morning so we can discuss these changes directly. We are also working to ensure all impacted employees are given the support they need on an individual level, including severance pay, outplacement services, health insurance benefits and more. Your managers, business leaders and HRBPs are available for conversations and we have a licensed counselor available 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Program.

I recognize that this is the second time this year that you are hearing about org-wide team changes and seeing colleagues go, so let me be very clear when I say this: I remain confident in our future. We are developing and publishing great games with high potential, our studio teams are growing, and our roadmap is bright. We are focused on our upcoming publishing launches for Throne and Liberty and Blue Protocol, as well as future projects like our Tomb Raider and The Lord of the Rings games, and our projects with Glowmade and Disruptive Games. Our internal studios are actively recruiting and hiring to fill critical roles as they develop new IP, while Prime Gaming continues to secure deals and deliver compelling content for members every month. We are committed to our vision of becoming one of the leading developers and publishers of high-quality games, and focusing our resources accordingly will help us get there.

 

[crispy4000]

But their website says there's 6 open positions currently at Game Growth.

 

Game Growth | Amazon.jobs

WWW.AMAZON.JOBS

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Are you ready to make a significant and lasting impact on the video game industry? Here in Game Growth, we are re-imagining how game creators promote their products across the globe and reach audiences who will be delighted by their content. Our vision is to enable game consumers to easily find and access any game experience, for any platform, anywhere in the world. At Amazon Games, we think big, are customer...

 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

Amazon really just needs to pull the plug on this obviously-failed experiment once and for all.

[crispy4000]

1 hour ago, Commissar SFLUFAN said:

Amazon really just needs to pull the plug on this obviously-failed experiment once and for all.

 

I just want to not have to scroll down so far for redeemable games.  So much digital junk for multiplayer games I'll never play.

[Keyser_Soze]

7 minutes ago, crispy4000 said:

 

I just want to not have to scroll down so far for redeemable games.  So much digital junk for multiplayer games I'll never play.

 

You don't play Mojo Melee or Time Princess?

[TwinIon]

If Amazon actually wants to be in the games business, they should just buy an existing studio/publisher. They'd probably screw it up, but they'd at least have a chance of putting out something worthwhile.

[crispy4000]

1 hour ago, TwinIon said:

If Amazon actually wants to be in the games business, they should just buy an existing studio/publisher. They'd probably screw it up, but they'd at least have a chance of putting out something worthwhile.

I don’t think they own Crystal Dynamics outright, but Tomb Raider is essentially an Amazon joint now.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

4 minutes ago, crispy4000 said:

I don’t think they own Crystal Dynamics outright, but Tomb Raider is essentially an Amazon joint now.

 

Correct - they don't own Crystal Dynamics outright.

 

Yet.

[Keyser_Soze]

7 hours ago, TwinIon said:

If Amazon actually wants to be in the games business, they should just buy an existing studio/publisher.

 

They did that. Double Helix and they brought out New World

 

They also bought Reflexive Entertainment and while not a studio, own Twitch as well. They also have Lumberyard, their own game engine. Now they have 4 game studios and can't make it work. If they bought anything else I think it would probably be harmful for the industry, something like an Embracer group type of deal.