Amazon’s logo is seen at the company’s logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, on January 5, 2023. Portal/Pascal Rossignol acquires license rights
Nov 13 (Portal) – Amazon.com (AMZN.O) has cut around 180 jobs in its gaming division, at least the second round of layoffs in a week by the online retailer and digital streaming provider as part of a broader restructuring, it said an email seen by Portal on Monday.
“After our initial restructuring in April, it became clear that we needed to focus our resources even more closely on the growth areas with the greatest potential to advance our business,” Christoph Hartmann, vice president of Amazon Games, said in November. 13 Email.
The company began notifying employees Monday morning that their positions were being eliminated, marking the second cut in the department this year.
Amazon also began cutting jobs in its streaming music and podcast divisions last week, according to people familiar with the matter. Also, very few jobs were cut in the People Experience and Technology (PXT) HR department, the sources added.
The games division offers downloadable versions of many video games on a monthly basis, as well as some Twitch channels and other services. The company continues to focus on developing and publishing games such as “Blue Protocol” and the free games offered through Prime Gaming, it said.
Prime Gaming is a benefit offered as part of the annual Prime membership for $139 and includes free shipping and free video streaming.
“We have listened to our customers and know that providing free games every month is their biggest wish. “That’s why we’re refining our Prime advantage to put even more focus on it,” said Hartmann.
In April, Amazon cut around 100 jobs in the gaming division.
Amazon’s third-quarter net income far exceeded analysts’ estimates, and the Seattle-based company forecast revenue for the final quarter of the year that was roughly in line with expectations.
Amazon cut more than 27,000 jobs last year, part of a wave of tech layoffs in the U.S. after the industry overhired during the pandemic.
Hartmann said in his email that the company is “actively recruiting” for other roles in the department.
“I realize this is the second time this year that you are hearing about organization-wide team changes and seeing colleagues leave. Let me be clear: I remain confident in our future,” he said.
Reporting by Greg Bensinger; Edited by Sayantani Ghosh and Richard Chang
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