TheRetroArcade
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Joined: Feb 2026
The free-to-play RPG Lost Ark is one of the very few games to go untouched by Amazon's gaming walkback, but that may be about to change.
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Some high-profile layoffs at Amazon Game Studios has Lost Ark fans worried that the game is approaching its end of days, despite still putting up decent player numbers on Steam. In a message posted on its website, the Lost Ark dev team acknowledged that cuts have happened, but said it will "keep working to improve the game and move Lost Ark forward with every update."
Layoffs were first reported by former Lost Ark community manager Roxanne Sabo, who wrote on X (via PCGamesN), "Half a decade of work, countless innovative projects, a career-changing promotion, a Forbes 30 under 30 award. To the Lost Ark Community: You will always be my proudest achievement."
Producer Henry Stelter shared news of his own layoffs on X and a longer message on LinkedIn, where he wrote, "With the latest round of layoffs at Amazon Games, I was informed this morning that my 9 year tenure with Amazon would be drawing to a soon."
Sean Hamilton, another Amazon Games community manager, reported being laid off in his own post, in which he said "many talented teammates and friends" were impacted by the cuts as well.
Welp, it was my turn to be sacrificed to the blood god. I was laid off this morning.
After 5.5 years at Amazon Games I got the axe. I’m so proud of the great UR team I built there, the talented researchers I had a chance to work with, and the skilled game teams we supported. 💔
The response to the layoffs among some in the Lost Ark subreddit is grim, and not just because many of the departed developers were popular among the community. Amazon effectively gave up on the big-budget game business in 2025, opting instead to embrace AI slop, and that slash-and-burn included the decision to pull the plug on New World, which will go dark at the end of January 2027.
New World wasn't a huge hit but it did seem moderately successful, at least based on concurrent player counts—but not successful enough to keep the lights on. Lost Ark can easily be slotted into the same category: Doing okay, but maybe not okay enough.
"After NW, it was just a matter of months before they do the same with the Lost Ark team," redditor Bomahzz wrote. "I hope they won't kill the game but I suppose it takes minimum effort for them as SGS [original Lost ...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?
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Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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GamesRadar+
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Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Some high-profile layoffs at Amazon Game Studios has Lost Ark fans worried that the game is approaching its end of days, despite still putting up decent player numbers on Steam. In a message posted on its website, the Lost Ark dev team acknowledged that cuts have happened, but said it will "keep working to improve the game and move Lost Ark forward with every update."
Layoffs were first reported by former Lost Ark community manager Roxanne Sabo, who wrote on X (via PCGamesN), "Half a decade of work, countless innovative projects, a career-changing promotion, a Forbes 30 under 30 award. To the Lost Ark Community: You will always be my proudest achievement."
Producer Henry Stelter shared news of his own layoffs on X and a longer message on LinkedIn, where he wrote, "With the latest round of layoffs at Amazon Games, I was informed this morning that my 9 year tenure with Amazon would be drawing to a soon."
Sean Hamilton, another Amazon Games community manager, reported being laid off in his own post, in which he said "many talented teammates and friends" were impacted by the cuts as well.
Welp, it was my turn to be sacrificed to the blood god. I was laid off this morning.
After 5.5 years at Amazon Games I got the axe. I’m so proud of the great UR team I built there, the talented researchers I had a chance to work with, and the skilled game teams we supported. 💔
The response to the layoffs among some in the Lost Ark subreddit is grim, and not just because many of the departed developers were popular among the community. Amazon effectively gave up on the big-budget game business in 2025, opting instead to embrace AI slop, and that slash-and-burn included the decision to pull the plug on New World, which will go dark at the end of January 2027.
New World wasn't a huge hit but it did seem moderately successful, at least based on concurrent player counts—but not successful enough to keep the lights on. Lost Ark can easily be slotted into the same category: Doing okay, but maybe not okay enough.
"After NW, it was just a matter of months before they do the same with the Lost Ark team," redditor Bomahzz wrote. "I hope they won't kill the game but I suppose it takes minimum effort for them as SGS [original Lost ...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?