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Amazon cuts 180 jobs from its gaming division
Amazon has cut around 180 jobs in its gaming division. The cuts will affect the entire Game Growth team and all staff working on Crown, an Amazon-backed Twitch channel. A leaked email reportedly cited a company pivot to refocus resources on growth areas like free monthly games for Prime subscribers.
Amazon lays off more than 100 employees across its gaming divisions
Amazon has laid off about 100 staffers in its gaming divisions, including its San Diego studio.
Amazon will publish the next Tomb Raider game
Amazon will publish the next Tomb Raider game, which will be the first mainline entry in the series since 2018. Crystal Dynamics will use Unreal Engine 5 to develop the 'biggest, most expansive Tomb Raider game to date.'
Amazon Games will bring Bandai Namco’s ‘Blue Protocol’ to the west
Amazon Gaming announced it will be publishing Bandai Namco’s forthcoming free-to-play online RPG, Blue Protocol in the west. A new teaser trailer offer views of the game's beautiful cel-shaded world, multiple character classes and weapons. It's an action RPG, with the ability to play both solo and cooperatively. You’ll apparently be able to participate in raids with up to 30 other players.
Amazon recruits 'Rainbow Six Siege' developers for its new game studio
The Montreal studio is making an original online multiplayer game.
Amazon pulls the plug on its first AAA game, 'Crucible'
The six-on-six multiplayer game launched in May but quickly returned to beta status as developers cut down the available modes and said they were adding polish.
Amazon's multiplayer Pac-Man game is made for Twitch streaming
Amazon's upcoming live Pac-Man will let you play it directly inside the game's Twitch streaming channel.
Amazon's free-to-play shooter 'Crucible' is now available on Steam
Amazon Games has officially launched Crucible, one of the two titles it’s been planning to release this year. The game has also launched with three game modes. Amazon Games has also kicked off an 8-week Pre-Season period for the game, allowing players to learn skills and hone strategies before Season 1 begins.
Amazon's free-to-play hero shooter 'Crucible' arrives May 20th
Amazon's first AAA title will be available via Steam.
Far Cry 2's Clint Hocking, Portal's Kim Swift join Amazon Game Studios
Portal Co-Creator Kim Swift and Far Cry 2 Lead Designer Clint Hocking have joined Amazon Game Studios. Hocking made the switch in February, according to his LinkedIn profile, following his departure from Valve near the end of 2013. Swift was previously creative director of Airight Games, which launched Soul Fjord exclusively on Ouya in January. Likewise, her profile on LinkedIn now notes her new position at Amazon as Senior Designer. The news follows Amazon's announcement of its Fire TV media streaming device, which is is on sale today for $99. The Fire TV's controller can be purchased separately for $40, and while games on the Android-based machine can support third-party Bluetooth controllers, gaming was deemed a "bonus" feature of the device. Amazon founded the in-house development studio in August 2012 and purchased Killer Instinct developer Double Helix in February. [Image: Clint Hocking]
Amazon Fire TV games work with other Bluetooth controllers
Amazon just revealed its $99 Fire TV game and video streaming device today, and unveiled a $40 Bluetooth game pad to go along with it. As it turns out, developers appear to have the option to make their Amazon Fire TV games compatible with other controllers. "I don't have the full data set, if any is the right term. Generally speaking, it's a Bluetooth controller," Mike Frazzini, VP of Amazon Games told Engadget today when asked about the Fire TV's controller support. "And the same thing vice-versa. Third-party controllers can work on Fire TV as well." According to a mandatory configuration file for all Amazon Fire TV game developers listed on Amazon's site, developers must note if the app "supports a game controller, either the Amazon Fire game controller or a Bluetooth game controller from another manufacturer." While Amazon doesn't confirm official Fire TV support with the game pads, other Bluetooth controllers like Nintendo's Wii Remote and Sony's DualShock 4 could feasibly work with some games if developers so choose. Likewise, while the Amazon Fire TV supports up to seven Bluetooth game controllers simultaneously, software development kit documentation notes that "only four of those controllers are assigned to player numbers." This seemingly caps local multiplayer gaming on Amazon Fire TV at four players at a given moment, which may not be an issue since gaming is more or less a "bonus" for the streaming device.
