Amazon Has Laid Off 180 Workers From Its Games Division

Technology and e-commerce giant Amazon has laid off 180 workers from its video game division.

First reported by Aftermath and independently confirmed by IGN, layoffs included Game Growth and the Crown Channel, an original program on Twitch that launched in 2020. Amazon Games VP Christoph Hartman addressed the layoffs in a memo to employees on Monday.

“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,” he wrote. “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.”

You can read the full memo below.

This is not the first time Amazon has seen a round of layoffs this year alone. In January, the company laid off 18,000 people. In March, the company eliminated an additional 9,000 positions.

Amazon Games launched in 2012, though in the 11 years since its formation, the company has struggled to reach success akin to those found at other tech giant companies with gaming arms, such as Sony and Microsoft. A source tells IGN that today’s cuts were made as Amazon Games focuses its efforts “on making and publishing video games.”

While Amazon Games has developed and published titles such as New World and Lost Ark, the studio has also canceled several projects, most notably the free-to-play game Crucible in 2020 and a Lord of the Rings MMORPG in 2021. Additionally, Amazon Games Studio head Mike Frazzini stepped down from his position last year.

Yet, the company has several projects currently in the works, such as an untitled Tomb Raider game being developed by Crystal Dynamics and a Lord of the Rings MMO in partnership with Embracer Group’s Middle-earth Enterprises.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.