Amazon.com’s gaming division is cutting 180 jobs and closing two of its business units, including a channel on its own live streaming site Twitch, the BBC reports.
These are the latest cuts in the gaming industry in 2023, which has seen around 6,500 jobs axed.
Although hit games from franchises including Zelda, Spider-Man and Mario were released during the year it seems layoffs are taking over all units of the tech industry and companies regardless of their scale.
Over the past half-year, gaming companies such as Epic Games (known for Fortnite), Ubisoft Montreal (developer of Assassin’s Creed), and Niantic (creator of Pokemon Go) have all revealed workforce reductions.
Established in 2012 with an initial focus on mobile games, Amazon Games expanded its portfolio to include larger titles like the online games New World and Lost Ark.
In 2022, the company disclosed plans to release a new single-player game within the renowned Tomb Raider franchise. Additionally, in May of the same year, Amazon announced its venture into a game based on the Lord of the Rings.
According to an email obtained by the BBC, Amazon attributed these job cuts to a broader restructuring initiative.
Over the past half-year, gaming companies such as Epic Games (known for Fortnite), Ubisoft Montreal (developer of Assassin’s Creed), and Niantic (creator of Pokemon Go) have all revealed workforce reductions.
Established in 2012 with an initial focus on mobile games, Amazon Games expanded its portfolio to include larger titles like the online games New World and Lost Ark.
In 2022, the company disclosed plans to release a new single-player game within the renowned Tomb Raider franchise. Additionally, in May of the same year, Amazon announced its venture into a game based on the Lord of the Rings.
According to an email obtained by the BBC, Amazon attributed these job cuts to a broader restructuring initiative.
“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,” wrote Amazon Games vice president Christoph Hartmann.
But he also said the firm was recruiting for other positions in its gaming division.
It comes amid a slew of cuts across the wider tech industry in 2023, with Amazon itself having cut more than 25,000 jobs.