adminAmazon Games is reportedly pulling back from PC and console game development as the company puts greater emphasis on its Luna cloud streaming service. The reported change comes alongside news that Amazon Games head Christoph Hartmann is leaving, although the company’s plans for individual teams and projects remain unclear.
Image credit: Amazon Game Studios
Amazon Games reportedly shifts focus to Luna
Christoph Hartmann, head of Amazon Game Studios, is reportedly set to leave the company. Journalist Jason Schreier shared the news on BlueSky. Amazon is also reported to be reducing its PC and console games business in favour of Luna, its cloud gaming service, which was announced in 2020 and launched in 2023.
A move toward cloud streaming would mark a change in emphasis for Amazon’s games business. Luna lets players stream games rather than rely on a traditional console or a gaming PC. For players following Amazon’s strategy, it is worth distinguishing this reported shift in investment from a confirmed announcement about the future of every game or studio.
Layoffs add to uncertainty for game teams
The reports coincide with Amazon announcing another round of job cuts, with 16,000 roles set to be affected. Beth Galetti, the company’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, said the changes were intended to “reduce layers, increase ownership, and remove bureaucracy.”
Amazon had announced 14,000 layoffs in October 2025. The company has not made clear whether its games division will be affected by the latest cuts. However, teams working on PC and console projects could face changes if Amazon reduces activity in those areas.
During the October 2025 round, Amazon’s games business saw cuts, including “significant role reductions” at its Irvine and San Diego offices. The company had also reduced the amount of work it did on big-budget titles, including massively multiplayer online games (MMOs).
What the reported changes could mean for games
One announced project affected by Amazon’s plans is New World Aeternum, which is scheduled to go offline in January 2027. Players should check official game announcements for service dates and updates, since shutdown schedules can affect access to online features and communities.
The reports do not confirm which other titles or teams may be affected. Until Amazon provides further details, players and developers should treat wider consequences for the company’s PC and console portfolio as uncertain.
Hartmann’s background at Amazon Games
Hartmann joined Amazon in 2018 as vice president of its game studios. Before that, he spent more than 20 years at 2K Games, where he served as president after co-founding the company in 2005.
At the time of his appointment, Hartmann said gaming connected hundreds of millions of people and described Amazon’s studios, AWS technology, Twitch communities and other resources as an opportunity to create major gaming experiences. In a 2023 interview ahead of New World’s release, he said the company would ultimately be judged by its successes.
What to watch next for Amazon Games
The reported departure of Hartmann and a possible retreat from PC and console development suggest a changing direction for Amazon Games, but important details have yet to be confirmed. Watch for official updates on Luna, studio staffing and the future of individual titles. For now, the clearest announced date for players is the planned January 2027 shutdown of New World Aeternum.
