Amazon Games has announced that it has opened a new studio in Europe. Bucharest Games, based in Bucharest, Romania expands Amazon’s commitment to developing and publishing games. Bucharest Games joins the ranks of existing development studios in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego, and Seattle. Amazon Games says the new studio will focus on supporting Amazon Games’ diverse portfolio of games now and in the future including New World, Lost Ark, Tomb Raider, The Lord of the Rings, Throne and Liberty, and new, unannounced projects from the San Diego and Montreal studios, and the independent studio Glowmade in the UK.
Bucharest Studios will be led by Cristian Pana, an industry veteran bringing more than 20 years of experience in the video game industry. Pana was recently at Ubisoft, serving as the Managing Director at Ubisoft Bucharest. His experience spans of Ubisoft’s biggest games and franchises, including Tom Clancy’s The Division, The Crew, Far Cry, and Avatar and diverse genres, from driving games, action adventure open world games to shooter RPGs.
“I’m thrilled to join Amazon Games at a time when the team is actively building across an exciting roadmap,” said Cristian Pana, Studio Head for Amazon Games Bucharest. “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.”
“Amazon Games is focused on developing and publishing great games, and we have an ambitious long-term roadmap in front of us,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games. “Expanding our internal development teams into Europe was a natural next step for us as we tackle our broad portfolio. Bucharest is known as one of the top emerging European cities for game development and we look forward to tapping into the rich talent pool.”