Amazon Games

In 2011, Amazon opened the Amazon Appstore[https://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_app_store_is_now_live_apple_is_suing_for_the_name-news-2440.php Amazon Appstore is now live, Apple is suing for the name], GSMArena, 22 March 2011 and started to hire developers for social mobile games.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140328095239/http://www.insidesocialgames.com/2011/05/27/amazon-wants-to-hire-game-designer-to-create-facebook-and-mobile-social-games/ Amazon Wants to Hire Game Designer to Create Facebook and Mobile Social Games], Inside Social Games, May 27, 2011 In 2012, Amazon Game Studios released Living Classics, a social game for Facebook. It published third-party games for the Fire Phone, like Lost Within and Til Morning's Light and To-Fu Fury.{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=2015-03-26 |title=Amazon bringing Fire Phone-exclusive games to iOS |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/26/8291495/amazon-fire-phone-games-ios-lost-within-til-mornings-light-to-fu-fury |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

Amazon first announced that it would create computer games in 2014. Amazon recruited Kim Swift (Portal, who has since left for Microsoft Games Studios), Clint Hocking (Far Cry 2), and developers who previously worked on System Shock 2. Amazon sought to make games in-between the industry standards of small and large teams making casual and AAA games, respectively. Amazon Game Studios wanted to make teams of five to thirty people who would work on games for between a year and 18 months with a focus on "creativity" and "craftsmanship", whether the genre is for kids or hardcore gamers. Studio vice-president Mike Frazzini wanted to make projects like Minecraft, The Walking Dead, and The Room. The studio also wanted developers to impact the direction of their hardware, between its cloud services and Amazon-brand devices. For example, developers can offload processing to Amazon's cloud services and the Amazon Fire TV has expanded memory as a result of developer feedback. A lot of the company's developers left within a year of the company's founding. Amazon Game Studios went on to publish a number of mobile titles, including the horror game Lost Within.

Two years after the studio's initial announcement, at the September 2016 TwitchCon, the studio revealed its first three PC games: Breakaway, Crucible, and New World. Breakaway was a team-based brawler in which two teams of four fight to deliver a ball to their opponents' goal. It was designed for tight integration into Twitch, the streaming service Amazon acquired in 2014. Amazon Game Studios announced the cancellation of Breakaway in March 2018.{{cite web|last=Gilliam |first=Ryan |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/2/17187836/amazon-game-studios-breakaway-status-canceled |title=Amazon kills its fantasy sports game Breakaway |work=Polygon |date=2018-04-02 |access-date=2019-08-15}} Crucible was a 12-player, class-based game in which players competed to become the last man standing. Crucible was launched in May 2020, but also cancelled later that year, with Relentless Studios citing "inability to see a sustained future" as the cause. New World is a massively multiplayer sandbox game with a supernatural colonial America theme. Players can form settlements, fight each other, or fight monsters out in the world. Crucible launched on May 20, 2020, while New World was released on September 28, 2021, after a 2nd pushback date was announced on July 10, 2020, and a 3rd on August 31, 2021. In August 2018, Christoph Hartmann, co-founder of video game publisher 2K Games – a wholly owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive – became the new Vice President of Amazon Game Studios working under Mike Frazzini.

In June 2019, during E3 week it was announced that layoffs hit the company. At this time it was unknown how many people were impacted. However, "multiple" unannounced projects had been cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/amazon-lays-off-dozens-of-game-developers-during-e3-1835523460|title=Amazon Lays Off Dozens Of Game Developers During E3|website=Kotaku|date=June 14, 2019 }} The company had been involved with a The Lord of the Rings MMO with Leyou since the middle of 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-details-on-the-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-including/1100-6475590/|title=New Details On The Lord of the Rings MMO, Including Its Art Style, Have Emerged}} However, in April 2021, following Tencent's purchase of Leyou in December 2020, contractual disputes between Amazon and Tencent led Amazon to cancel further development of the game.{{cite web | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-17/amazon-cancels-lord-of-the-rings-game-announced-two-years-ago | title = Amazon Cancels Lord of the Rings Game Announced Two Years Ago | first = Jason | last = Schreier | date = April 17, 2021 | accessdate = April 17, 2021 | work = Bloomberg News }}

The company has three game development studios in San Diego,{{Cite web|title=Amazon hires John Smedley to lead new San Diego studio|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-15-amazon-hires-john-smedley-to-lead-new-san-diego-studio|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=February 15, 2017 }} Seattle,{{cite web|date=March 9, 2017|title=Louis Castle joins Amazon to head Crucible team|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/3/9/14871250/louis-castle-amazon-crucible|website=Polygon}} and Orange County.{{Cite web|date=September 30, 2016|title=Amazon Game Studios unveils three PC games - Breakaway, Crucible, New World|url=https://www.vg247.com/2016/09/30/amazon-game-studios-unveils-three-pc-games-breakaway-crucible-new-world/}}{{cite web|date=February 15, 2017|title=Amazon opens new game studio led by EverQuest creator John Smedley|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/2/15/14628784/amazon-game-studios-john-smedley-san-diego|website=Polygon}}{{cite web|date=March 12, 2017|title=The curious case of Amazon's deep plunge into the esports industry|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/03/12/the-curious-case-of-amazons-deep-plunge-into-the-esports-industry/}} In March 2021, Amazon opened a new development studio in Montreal, Quebec, led by former members of Ubisoft Montreal behind Rainbow Six: Siege, Luc Bouchard, Xavier Marquis, Alexandre Remy, and Romain Rimokh.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-games-opens-new-studio-in-montreal-with-rainbow-six-siege-vets/1100-6489189/|title=Amazon Games Opens New Studio In Montreal With Rainbow Six Siege Vets|website=GameSpot|date=March 23, 2021|accessdate=March 23, 2021|first=Steve|last=Watts}} During a major leak of Twitch's source code in October 2021, it was revealed that Amazon Games was working on a competitor to Steam, codenamed "Vapor".{{Cite news|last=Stanton|first=Rich|date=2021-10-06|title=Twitch megaleak reveals secret Steam competitor codenamed Vapour|language=en|work=PC Gamer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/twitch-megaleak-reveals-secret-steam-competitor-codenamed-vapour/|access-date=2021-10-07}} New World launched on September 28, 2021, reaching 707,000 concurrent players at its peak on launch day.{{Cite web|last=Gonzalez|first=Oscar|title=New World surpasses 900,000 players to become one of Steam's most played games|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/new-world-surpasses-900k-players-to-become-one-of-steams-most-played-games/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=CNET|language=en}}

Lost Ark is a massively multiplayer online action role-playing game (MMOARPG) developed by Tripod Studio and Smilegate's game development subsidiary Smilegate RPG. It was fully released in the Korean region on December 4, 2018. The game was also released in North America, South America, and Europe on February 11, 2022, by Amazon Games. Within twenty-four hours of release, it became the second most played game on Steam.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2022-02-12 |title=Lost Ark becomes the second most played game in Steam history after just 24 hours |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/12/22930757/lost-ark-steam-most-played-game-launch |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

On September 22, 2021, Amazon Games announced it will publish a new title from game developer Glowmade. Based in Guildford, England, Glowmade’s staff includes veterans of Lionhead Studios. This game for Amazon will be a new IP focusing on online cooperative play.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-22|title=Amazon will publish a game from Glowmade|url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/09/22/amazon-will-publish-a-game-from-glowmade/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}} In March 2022, studio head Mike Frazzini stepped down.{{cite web |title=Amazon Games Studio Head Frazzini Steps Down |website=Bloomberg News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511071748/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-26/amazon-games-studio-head-frazzini-steps-down |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-26/amazon-games-studio-head-frazzini-steps-down}} In April 2023, Amazon Games VP Christoph Hartmann wrote a memo to staff about laying off roughly 100 employees across its video games division.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Annie |title=TECH Amazon lays off more than 100 employees in its video games division: Read the memo here |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/amazon-lays-off-some-employees-in-its-video-games-unit-read-the-memo.html |access-date=5 April 2023 |agency=CNBC |date=4 April 2023}} In November 2023, Amazon eliminated over 180 employees, resulting in the shuttering of the Crown Twitch channel and the closing of Amazon's Game Growth team in an effort to focus Prime Gaming benefits on free games.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2023-11-13 |title=Amazon is getting rid of its gaming content channel amid larger games layoffs |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/13/23959224/amazon-gaming-layoffs-crown-content-channel |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=The Verge |language=en}} In May 2024, Amazon Games opened its first European studio in Bucharest.{{Cite web |last=Middler |first=Jordan |date=2024-05-21 |title=Amazon Games is opening its first European studio, helmed by a Ubisoft veteran |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/amazon-games-is-opening-its-first-european-studio-helmed-by-a-ubisoft-veteran/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Video Games Chronicle |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kerr |first=Chris |date=2024-05-21 |title=Amazon Games opens Bucharest studio to support development and publishing ambitions |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/amazon-games-opens-bucharest-studio-to-support-development-and-publishing-ambitions |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Game Developer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Sophie |date=2024-05-22 |title=Amazon opens new studio in Bucharest |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/amazon-opens-new-studio-in-bucharest |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}

File:Relentless Studios Logo.png

Game development divisions include:{{Cite web|title=Amazon hires John Smedley to lead new San Diego studio|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-15-amazon-hires-john-smedley-to-lead-new-san-diego-studio|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=15 February 2017|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=2020-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408012230/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-15-amazon-hires-john-smedley-to-lead-new-san-diego-studio|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Amazon opens new game studio led by EverQuest creator John Smedley|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/2/15/14628784/amazon-game-studios-john-smedley-san-diego|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=2017-02-15|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=2020-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725065042/https://www.polygon.com/2017/2/15/14628784/amazon-game-studios-john-smedley-san-diego|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Amazon Game Studios unveils three PC games - Breakaway, Crucible, New World|url=https://www.vg247.com/2016/09/30/amazon-game-studios-unveils-three-pc-games-breakaway-crucible-new-world/|date=2016-09-30|website=VG247|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=2020-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520020232/https://www.vg247.com/2016/09/30/amazon-game-studios-unveils-three-pc-games-breakaway-crucible-new-world/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-23-amazon-games-opens-montreal-studio|title=Amazon Games opens Montreal studio|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=23 March 2021|access-date=2021-06-24|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203509/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-23-amazon-games-opens-montreal-studio|url-status=live}}

• Relentless Studios (formerly Amazon Game Studios Seattle) is an American video development studio based in Seattle, Washington, which released Crucible in May 2020.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2020 |title='Crucible' proves that Amazon is finally serious about video games |url=https://www.engadget.com/crucible-amazon-relentless-game-preview-interview-130013794.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519221149/https://www.engadget.com/crucible-amazon-relentless-game-preview-interview-130013794.html |archive-date=2020-05-19 |access-date=2020-05-20 |website=Engadget |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=2020-05-05 |title=Amazon's Crucible is a free-to-play multiplayer game launching May 20th |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/5/21246923/amazon-crucible-relentless-studio-free-to-play-launch-date-may-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527065510/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/5/21246923/amazon-crucible-relentless-studio-free-to-play-launch-date-may-20 |archive-date=2020-05-27 |access-date=2020-05-20 |website=The Verge |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2020-05-20 |title=Amazon's free-to-play PvP shooter Crucible is now live on Steam |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/amazons-pvp-shooter-crucible-is-now-live-on-steam/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528195234/https://www.pcgamer.com/amazons-pvp-shooter-crucible-is-now-live-on-steam/ |archive-date=2020-05-28 |access-date=2020-05-20 |magazine=PC Gamer |language=en-US}} The company is led by Louis Castle, co-founder of development Westwood Studios. Crucible remained in operation until it was closed in November of the same year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/10/11/amazons-crucible-is-officially-dead/|title=Amazon's 'Crucible' Is Officially Dead|first=Erik|last=Kain|website=Forbes|access-date=2021-06-24|archive-date=2021-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206043221/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/10/11/amazons-crucible-is-officially-dead/|url-status=live}}
• Amazon Games Orange County (formerly Double Helix Games) is an American video development studio based in Irvine, California, which released New World in September 2021.
• Other studios in San Diego, California, Montreal, Quebec and Bucharest, Romania.

• Amazon Lumberyard
• Open 3D Engine

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=Amazon's Gaming Division Loses Three Key Figures |work=GameSpot |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazons-gaming-division-loses-three-key-figures/1100-6429837/ |access-date=2016-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101153336/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazons-gaming-division-loses-three-key-figures/1100-6429837/ |archive-date=2016-11-01 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |last1=Lien |first1=Tracey |title=How Amazon Game Studios convinced developers to join its team |work=Polygon |date=2014-04-07 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/4/7/5591884/how-amazon-game-studios-convinced-developers-to-join-its-team |access-date=2016-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129093225/http://www.polygon.com/2014/4/7/5591884/how-amazon-game-studios-convinced-developers-to-join-its-team |archive-date=2016-11-29 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |last1=Furniss |first1=Zack |title=Is Breakaway Appealing To More Than Streamers? |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=2016-10-02 |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/02/breakaway/ |access-date=2016-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223213241/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/02/breakaway/ |archive-date=2016-12-23 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Alice |title=Amazon Game Studios Announce Three Games |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=2016-09-30 |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/30/amazon-game-studios-announce-three-games/ |access-date=2016-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018114039/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/30/amazon-game-studios-announce-three-games/ |archive-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

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Category:Amazon (company)

Category:Video game companies established in 2012

Category:Video game companies based in Washington (state)

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game publishers