Amazon Opens Game Development Studio in Bucharest

Amazon Games has announced opening a new game development studio in Bucharest, Romania, marking a significant expansion of its game development and publishing commitment. This new studio joins Amazon Games’ existing development teams in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego, and Seattle, enhancing their capabilities in supporting a diverse portfolio of games.

Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion into Europe, highlighting Bucharest’s reputation as an emerging hub for game development. He believes the city offers a rich talent pool that Amazon Games aims to leverage to advance its ambitious long-term projects.

Cristian Pana, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience, has been appointed to lead the new Bucharest studio. Pana’s extensive background includes leadership roles at Ubisoft Bucharest, where he contributed to major franchises such as Tom Clancy’s The Division, The Crew, Far Cry, and Avatar. His expertise spans various genres, including driving games, action-adventure open-world games, and role-playing games (RPGs).

I’m thrilled to join Amazon Games at a time when the team is actively building across an exciting roadmap. I’ve built and led outstanding teams in the past, and I know this area of Europe is a hot spot for some of the very best talent in gaming.

Cristian Pana, Head of Amazon Game Studio in Bucharest

The new Bucharest studio aligns with Amazon Games’ vision of creating and publishing games that foster community engagement. The expanding portfolio includes live-service games like New World and Lost Ark and upcoming projects such as Tomb Raider, The Lord of the Rings, and Throne and Liberty. Additionally, Amazon Games has several unannounced projects in development at its San Diego and Montreal studios and the independent studio Glowmade in the UK.

Amazon Games is actively recruiting for various roles at the new Bucharest studio, including Software Developers, Artists, Designers, and Animators, to build a robust team that will drive the company’s game development efforts forward.