Amazon layoffs 2025: company trims about 14,000 corporate roles as AI spending accelerates; gaming shift clouds “New World” future

Amazon began a fresh round of job cuts on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, eliminating roughly 14,000 corporate positions as it restructures around artificial intelligence and streamlines overlapping layers in its organization. Employees were told the reductions are part of an efficiency push tied to heavy investment in next-generation AI, data center capacity, and core logistics—areas leaders say will define growth over the next several years.

How many Amazon layoffs in 2025—and what changed from earlier chatter

The latest plan centers on about 14,000 corporate roles, making this the company’s largest reduction since the 2023 cycle that removed roughly 27,000 positions. In recent days, internal and market chatter pointed to a much larger target; the company’s first confirmed action lands well below that speculation. Leaders framed the move as “right-sizing” layers and re-allocating talent toward priority bets rather than a broad hiring freeze.

While further adjustments remain possible as teams finalize 2026 budgets, Tuesday’s cuts represent the definitive near-term step. Any subsequent actions, if taken, would be announced separately.

Which teams and locations are affected by the Amazon layoffs

Internal messages indicate multiple corporate functions are impacted, including elements of People Experience & Technology (HR), select device and services groups, and portions of consumer and entertainment organizations. Roles vary by region and business line. Early notes from team leaders reference reductions in program management, recruiting, layers of middle management, and some product roles where roadmaps have been consolidated.

AWS and Prime Video continue to hire selectively for high-priority initiatives even as noncritical roles are pared back. In North America and Europe, affected corporate employees were notified directly; timelines in other regions will follow local labor processes.

Severance, redeployment window, and benefits

Impacted corporate employees generally receive a 90-day internal move window. During that period, they can apply for open roles while remaining on payroll. At the end of the window, those without a match transition to severance.

Exact severance details vary by country and tenure but commonly include cash pay, continued benefits for a limited period, and outplacement assistance. Visa-holding employees are being routed to dedicated immigration support teams. Staff should review their local packets for specifics and deadlines; many benefits require prompt enrollment or consent to activate.

Amazon layoffs and “New World”: what’s changing in games

Within Games, Amazon is refocusing away from long-cycle, big-budget MMOs and toward faster-moving titles that align with cloud distribution and emergent AI tooling. Studio leadership outlined cuts across certain first-party teams and support functions in Irvine and San Diego as project portfolios are reshaped.

What this means for New World: live operations are being evaluated against revenue and player-retention targets. While the company remains engaged with external partnerships on select franchises, internal big-team MMO development is narrowing. Players should expect roadmap updates on cadence, event scheduling, and support windows once staffing changes are fully settled. Development plans may shift; schedule subject to change.

Why Amazon is doing layoffs now

Three forces are driving the timing:

1. AI capital cycle. Massive investment in AI infrastructure and applications is pulling budget into data centers, model tooling, and adjacent services. That funding is being offset by lowering overhead and eliminating duplicative layers.

2. Simplification. Leaders want flatter orgs and clearer ownership, especially in areas where pandemic-era growth produced overlapping charters.

3. Portfolio focus. Bets with slower or uncertain payback are getting trimmed in favor of products with clearer customer pull or flywheel effects across retail, ads, devices, and cloud.

How this compares with previous Amazon job cuts

Between late 2022 and 2023, Amazon removed about 27,000 roles across retail, devices, HR, and other groups, a response to post-pandemic normalization. The 2025 layoffs are smaller in headcount but more targeted: they concentrate on white-collar layers and programs whose goals now overlap with automation or AI-enabled workflows.

What Amazon employees should do next

• Check your status and deadlines. The 90-day window starts from your notification date; internal job applications generally require manager approval and may include assessment steps.

• Prioritize roles tied to growth lanes. Openings in AI, data platforms, applied science, supply chain optimization, and high-leverage product areas are most active.

• Review severance paperwork early. Some benefits—healthcare continuation, outplacement, and equity treatment—have strict election windows.

• For visa holders: contact the internal immigration desk immediately to understand grace periods and portability options.

What it means for AMZN and the broader job market

Investors tend to view cost actions tied to AI reinvestment as margin-supportive, though the near-term effect on sentiment will depend on guidance for capex and hiring in 2026. For tech labor markets, the shift underscores a continuing rotation: fewer generalist program roles, more demand for engineers, data talent, and operators who can ship AI-augmented features quickly. In gaming, the pivot away from large MMOs signals tighter funding for long-runway projects unless they anchor a larger ecosystem strategy.

What’s next

Teams will finalize org charts and updated roadmaps over the coming weeks. Employees should expect follow-up town halls and FAQs addressing role eligibility, internal transfer mechanics, and country-specific severance. Recent updates indicate the scope described above is current as of October 28, 2025; details may evolve.