Amazon Game Studios
Amazon Game Studios business and news from across the web.
Report: Xbox adds Matthew Ball and Scott Van Vliet to leadership teamXbox has appointed game industry analyst Matthew Ball as chief strategy officer and Scott Van Vliet, formerly of Microsoft's Azure OpenAI, as chief technology officer to bolster its leadership team. These changes follow Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's recent appointments and directives to accelerate operations.
Deus Ex and TimeSplitters games teased as Embracer Group does more restructuringEmbracer Group is restructuring and exploring external partnerships for its less prominent game franchises, including Deus Ex and TimeSplitters. This comes after the company previously cancelled new installments in these series and shut down studios like Free Radical Design. The conglomerate aims to capitalize on IPs such as Saints Row, Legacy Of Kain, Red Faction, and Thief, while its core AAA IPs like Tomb Raider and The Lord Of The Rings will be managed by a new entity called Fellowship Entertainment.- Amazon Games exposé suggests a dev team was forced to pivot to AI and then laid offAmazon Game Studios employees in San Diego were reportedly forced to pivot their game, Project Trident, to incorporate generative AI features before the entire team was laid off. Despite a mandate for AI integration across development divisions, the team's efforts to adapt the game for AI-driven NPC interactions ultimately proved futile as the studio underwent layoffs.
The Lord of the Rings MMO might reportedly be dead, but Amazon is still "working closely" with Middle-earth on…Amazon Game Studios has reportedly canceled its second attempt at a The Lord of the Rings MMO, with sources citing an investigation into the publisher's use of generative AI. Despite this, Amazon stated they are still working closely with Middle-earth Enterprises on other games set in the universe.
Amazon pressured one of its teams to develop an AI game, they scrambled to make it work - then got laid off anywayDevelopers at Amazon Game Studios were laid off in October 2025, following a company-wide push to integrate generative AI into game development. Project Trident, an AI-powered third-person action game, was cancelled despite internal promise and adherence to the AI mandate. The layoffs affected multiple teams, including those working on New World and The Lord of the Rings MMO, as Amazon shifted its strategy away from big-budget internal development.
Amazon has cancelled The Lord of the Rings MMO, but promises it "continues to explore a compelling new game experience" set in Middle-earthAmazon has cancelled its previously announced Lord of the Rings MMO, though the company states it is still exploring a new game experience set in Middle-earth. The MMO, a partnership between Amazon Game Studios and Embracer Group, had been in early development and faced numerous setbacks including layoffs and a shift in company focus. While the MMO is officially shelved, Amazon remains committed to the intellectual property.
Recent Ashes of Creation court filings reveal Riot tried to purchase Intrepid for $250 millionRecent court filings reveal that Riot Games explored acquiring Intrepid Studios, the developer of Ashes of Creation, for $250-500 million in 2022. At the time, Riot was heavily invested in its own MMORPG projects, including Hytale and a separate internal MMO, amidst a period of high player interest in the genre following the performance of games like New World and Lost Ark.
Amazon is downscaling cloud video game service LunaAmazon is significantly scaling back its cloud gaming service Luna, discontinuing individual game purchases and access to third-party stores like EA, GOG, and Ubisoft. Existing direct purchases will cease to function on June 10 without refunds. This strategic shift follows departures from Amazon Game Studios and a broader company focus on core strengths, including a re-launch of Luna and a partnership for the Tomb Raider franchise.
Amazon Luna Will No Longer Support Third-Party Stores or Subscriptions on June 10thAmazon Luna will discontinue support for third-party storefronts and subscriptions, including EA App, Ubisoft Connect, GOG, Ubisoft Plus, and Jackbox Games, on June 10th. The cloud gaming service will exclusively offer titles through its own Luna Standard and Premium tiers. This change follows other recent shifts in Amazon's gaming division, including the departure of Amazon Game Studios head Christoph Hartmann and the loss of a publishing deal for Maverick Games.
Tomb Raider remake to be delayed to 2027 claims insiderAn insider claims that the Tomb Raider remake, Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis, has been delayed to February 2027, missing its original 2026 release window and the franchise's 30th anniversary. This potential delay, along with ongoing layoffs at developer Crystal Dynamics following its acquisition by Embracer Group, raises uncertainty about the future of the franchise, including the previously announced Tomb Raider: Catalyst.
Tomb Raider is fine, Crystal Dynamics says, as it lays off employees for the fourth time in the past 12 monthsCrystal Dynamics has laid off 20 employees, marking the fourth round of layoffs in the past year. Despite these workforce reductions, the studio remains committed to developing two new Tomb Raider games, Tomb Raider: Catalyst and a reimagining of the original game, with publishing support from Amazon Game Studios.
Crystal Dynamics 'Fully Committed' to Tomb Raider Franchise Despite Fourth Redundancy Round in 12 Months - IGNCrystal Dynamics has undergone its fourth round of layoffs in 12 months, reducing its workforce by 20 employees. The studio stated it remains fully committed to the future development of the Tomb Raider franchise, including the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst. This news comes despite the studio's acquisition by Embracer in 2022 and ongoing development of multiple Tomb Raider titles.
Battlefield 6 takes home Game of the Year at UKIE Video Game Awards 2026Battlefield 6 was named UK Game of the Year at the UKIE Game Awards 2026, also taking home best PC game. The ceremony also saw four industry veterans inducted into the UK Games Industry Hall of Fame, including Debbie Bestwick and Jon Ingold. Other winners included Atomfall for best console game and PowerWash Simulator for best mobile game.
Amazon Game Studios ends publishing agreement with Maverick GamesAmazon Game Studios has ended its publishing agreement with Maverick Games, stating the decision allows Maverick flexibility to find a partner better aligned with their game's market launch. Development of Maverick's unannounced driving game, planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, continues as planned with the studio seeking new publishing partners.
Amazon abandons upcoming racing game from former Forza devs, as its departure from triple-A publishing continuesAmazon Game Studios has ended its publishing agreement with Maverick Games for its upcoming narrative-led racing title. The decision is part of Amazon's broader strategy to exit the triple-A publishing space and focus on projects leveraging its unique strengths. Maverick Games, founded by former Forza Horizon developers, is now seeking a new publisher for its open-world game.
King of Meat Shutting Down in April, Full Refunds Coming to All PlayersKing of Meat, a co-op dungeon-crawling platformer developed by Glowmade and published by Amazon Game Studios, will shut down its servers on April 9th. All players who purchased the game will receive a full refund in the coming weeks. The game is no longer available for purchase, and in-game purchases have also been disabled.
Amazon shutting down UGC dungeon brawler King of Meat after six monthsAmazon Game Studios and developer Glowmade are shutting down the user-generated content dungeon brawler King of Meat after only six months. The game, which launched on October 2, 2025, will cease operations on April 9, 2026, due to a failure to find an audience. Players who purchased the game will receive full refunds, and in-app purchases have been disabled.
Amazon Game Studios shuts down Glowmade's online multiplayer King of MeatAmazon Game Studios is shutting down Glowmade's online multiplayer dungeon crawler, King of Meat, with servers going offline on April 9, 2026. The game was delisted from storefronts and had in-game purchases disabled on February 23, 2024, as it did not find the expected audience. Players who purchased the game will receive a full refund.
UK comms agency Bastion opens North American armUK communications agency Bastion has launched its North American division, led by former Amazon Game Studios comms head Rebekah Nicodemus. The new office aims to serve gaming clients in North America, leveraging Bastion's established global network and expertise in strategic counsel, media relations, and crisis communications. Amazon Game Studios is listed as their first client.
Ubisoft Q3 net bookings rise 12% to €338m, primarily driven by Assassin's Creed franchiseUbisoft reported a 12% year-on-year increase in Q3 net bookings to €338 million, exceeding its guidance, largely driven by the Assassin's Creed franchise and strong back-catalogue sales. The company also announced restructuring plans, including workforce reductions, and completed Tencent's investment in its Vantage Studios.