Amazon Games has walked back rules that governed what its developers could do to create games. These guidelines were pretty draconian when you compared them to most other development studios, and it's a wonder they were ever implemented in the first place.
The rules used to require all Amazon Games studio staff to use in-house tools when developing or distributing their games, and to only list games they develop on Amazon's game store. Furthermore, Amazon claimed the rights to any games developed by its employees even if those games were made during off-work hours in the employee's free time.
Amazon also barred its developers from collaborating with other studios and personal projects (if you could even call them personal if they were immediately taken by Amazon) could only receive help from other Amazon staff.
However, as reported by Bloomberg, these rules have been rescinded as of today. A memo from Amazon Games vice president Mike Frazzini unleashes his employees to be more collaborative in the future.
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"These policies were originally put in place over a decade ago when we had a lot less information and experience than we do today, and as a result, the policies were written quite broadly," wrote Frazzini. Those now-gone rules seemed to further confirm that Amazon–and Frazzini in particular–just didn’t understand games development. At least, not until very recently.
Frazzini’s previous approach to Amazon Games was basically the same as Amazon’s approach to everything, which was data-driven and apparently extremely strict about letting any data leak outside the company. According to an earlier Bloomberg report, this approach eventually led to the multiplayer shooter Crucible, which was ultimately canceled after several failed beta tests.
However, it looks like Frazzini is finally learning that game development is all about collaboration, and letting your developers learn by reaching outside the company on their own time is key to learning.
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