Amazon reportedly had a studio pivot away from a game 'everyone was excited by' to make something with more AI stuffed in it, then laid them all off anyway

Amazon Games Layoffs and the Collapse of Project Trident

The recent wave of layoffs at Amazon, which saw the tech giant cut 14,000 jobs in late 2025, has shed new light on the internal struggles within its gaming division. Among the most alarming reports is the fate of Project Trident, a development team that was reportedly forced to pivot away from a promising title to chase an artificial intelligence mandate, only to be disbanded anyway.

According to a detailed report from Eurogamer, which spoke with multiple anonymous sources at Amazon Games, the project’s journey was marked by shifting goals and dwindling momentum. The initial concept was met with internal enthusiasm, but a sudden corporate directive changed its trajectory entirely.

From Shadow of the Colossus to an AI Mandate

Project Trident began as an action game heavily inspired by Shadow of the Colossus. The core gameplay loop involved players toppling massive Jotuns by navigating their huge forms using flying mounts and grappling hooks. Sources described the atmosphere as one of genuine excitement, noting that "everybody was excited by it" within the studio.

However, the project’s direction changed dramatically in mid-2024. Just as the team was preparing to pitch the original concept, Amazon instituted a new "AI mandate."

• The team was told to integrate more artificial intelligence into the game or face being shut down.
• Developers were given only two years to pivot, a timeframe sources described as virtually non-existent for meaningful game development.
• The new direction required a game that "hamfists AI into a videogame," leading to a concept resembling Helldivers.

This second iteration featured roguelite gameplay with drop-in, drop-out mechanics, where players would talk to AI characters for missions and story elements. While the team had some fun with the mechanics, many expressed frustration, wishing they could have continued working on the original Colossus-style title.

A Third Pivot and Ultimate Dissolution

Halfway through the second development phase, the strict deadline was lifted, allowing the team to explore a third concept. This final version was a single-player game designed around interacting with Large Language Models (LLMs). Players could use these AI systems to fire off special moves or persuade prisoners to join their cause.

According to sources, this third concept was close to being demonstrable, with a demo ready to be shown in the first half of 2026. However, before this milestone could be reached, the team was let go.

The Cost of Strategic Shifts

The narrative painted by these sources suggests a cycle of wasted effort and talent. One source highlighted the irony of the situation:

"I think we did discover the best ways and the worst ways that [generative AI implementation] can happen," and yet, "[Amazon] laid off everyone that was an expert in the best and worst ways to implement AI in regards to game development."

This perspective implies that Amazon pushed the team to explore the boundaries of AI in gaming, only to discard the expertise and work once the experiments were complete. It raises questions about the efficiency and ethical treatment of creative teams in the push for generative AI implementation.

Amazon’s Response

In a statement to Eurogamer, Amazon Gaming Head Jeff Gattis denied that AI integration was the cause of the layoffs. He framed the reduction as part of a broader strategic refocusing:

• "AI was not the reason behind role reductions in Games."
• The changes were due to a "strategic shift in our business and a refocus on the areas where Amazon can deliver the most value to players."
• Gattis emphasized that AI should expand possibilities, guided by the "creativity and judgment of our teams."

Despite these assurances, the account from Project Trident’s developers suggests a disconnect between executive messaging and the on-the-ground reality. The team was reportedly forced to abandon a fan-favorite concept, rushed through multiple AI-centric pivots, and then disbanded, leaving behind a sense of exhaustion rather than innovation.

As the gaming industry continues to grapple with the integration of AI technologies, the fate of Project Trident serves as a cautionary tale. It highlights the potential risks of prioritizing technological mandates over creative vision, and the human cost when such efforts are abruptly terminated.