In mid-December, we learned that the Amazon Games studio was going to publish the next Tomb Raider developed by Crystal Dynamics. A major news for the studio founded 10 years ago, but it is a sadder news which hits the studio today for this beginning of the year, and more precisely an important departure.
John Smedley leaves Amazon Games San Diego after 6 years
Arrived with great fanfare in 2017 at Amazon Games, John Smedley is an industry veteran who had given new hope to Amazon’s gaming arm. Smedley had notably served as president of Sony Online Entertainment and had worked on EverQuest, Star Wars Galaxies, Planetside, and H1Z1, among others. Here’s what he said in an email to uncovered staff by Bloomberg :
“After careful consideration, I decided it was time for me to try my hand at something new”.
Andrew Sites, lead publishing producer and close associate of Smedley at Amazon Games San Diego, will take his place as director. An Amazon spokesperson had this to say about the studio stalwart’s situation and departure:
“John is a gaming industry legend and we are grateful to him for his contributions to Amazon Games over the past six years.
The San Diego team remains focused on completing their unannounced project and John is committed to staying until the team is completely revamped before leaving.”
The soft start eases the transition for teams and the continuation of ongoing projects at Amazon Games San Diego after former Amazon Games boss Mike Frazzini resigned last year due to disappointing results. – vis-à-vis the sums committed.
