Amazon is cutting hundreds of jobs at its Twitch and Amazon Games divisions. The layoffs are part of a larger corporate restructuring. The news was confirmed in an internal email to staff.
These cuts impact a significant portion of the company's gaming initiatives. According to Bloomberg, the layoffs will largely affect offices in California. The move signals a strategic shift away from certain large-scale game development.
One employee, known online as Tarfu, was with Twitch for over 11 years. He revealed his dismissal in a series of social media posts. Tarfu claimed he was laid off via email without a direct call.
He stated he built Twitch's entire fraud prevention program. His work involved protecting creator revenue from bots and bad actors. He expressed frustration that he never received proper recognition for his critical work.
The timing is particularly difficult for him. He is recovering from a recent motorcycle accident. He is also set to get married in less than a month.
Other Twitch employees have also shared their layoff news online. Many are now actively seeking new employment opportunities. The community has responded with an outpouring of support and job leads.
An internal email from VP Steve Boom confirmed the strategic pullback. The company is halting significant first-party AAA game development. This specifically affects massively multiplayer online (MMO) projects.
The decision reflects the challenging economics of game development. Even a tech giant like Amazon is streamlining its entertainment divisions. The focus appears to be shifting toward more profitable or core business areas.