After cutting several positions in the music division, Amazon is all set to axe a few more roles. The e-commerce giant is reportedly laying off employees in its gaming division now. The decision will impact 180 employees.
The move comes as a larger part of its restructuring process, the company communicated in an internal memo to employees. The company stated that these job cuts are part of a strategic decision to concentrate and prioritise areas with the highest growth potential.
These job cuts come after the layoffs announced in April, affecting over 100 employees in Amazon’s games organisation, particularly in Prime Gaming, Game Growth and the San Diego studio. This is the second round of layoffs at its Game studios.
In an email sent to employees on Monday, 13 November, 2023, Christoph Hartmann, vice president, Amazon Games, conveyed that the company is implementing alterations to its games initiatives. These changes involve discontinuing the Crown channel on Twitch and closing the Game Growth effort, which aids game makers in marketing.
Additionally, the company’s primary aim will be to provide free games each month. The Prime benefit will be refined to enhance that focus. The memo mentioned that the company is currently concentrating on its upcoming releases such as Throne and Liberty and Blue Protocol, along with future endeavours including Tomb Raider and The Lord of the Rings games. The company will also focus more on its collaborations with Glowmade and Disruptive Games.
Furthermore, the company conveyed that it’s actively hiring for essential positions to develop new intellectual property. Meanwhile, Prime Gaming is consistently securing deals and providing engaging content for members on a monthly basis.