Amazon Game Studios is once again facing a setback in its pursuit of a foothold in the gaming market. Just months after launch, the co-op party platformer King of Meat will be shutting down on April 9, 2026, with developer Glowmade and Amazon confirming full refunds for all purchasers. The news underscores a challenging track record for Amazon in the games industry, marked by several high-profile failures and cancellations.
The decision to close King of Meat, which debuted in October 2025 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, comes as little surprise to those following Amazon’s gaming ventures. In a statement released Monday, Amazon Game Studios cited a lack of audience engagement as the primary reason for the closure. “Despite the creativity and innovation Glowmade brought to King of Meat, the game has unfortunately not found the audience we hoped for,” the statement read. “we have made the tough decision to conclude our investment in the game.”
King of Meat tasked players with navigating community-built, obstacle-filled dungeons as a team of four. While the game garnered mostly positive reviews on Steam, it struggled to attract a substantial player base. Peak concurrent players on Steam reached only 320, according to SteamDB, and the game currently has just 58 reviews. Giovanni Colantonio of Polygon reported difficulty finding teammates even on the PlayStation 5 during the game’s launch weekend, highlighting the matchmaking challenges players faced. Polygon
This closure adds to a growing list of unsuccessful projects for Amazon Game Studios. Last month, the company announced that its MMO Novel World: Aeternum would be discontinued in 2027. Prior to that, Amazon shuttered the MOBA-inspired shooter Crucible shortly after its release and canceled the sports-fantasy brawler Breakaway. An ambitious Lord of the Rings MMO was also scrapped, though Amazon continues to develop a different Lord of the Rings MMORPG alongside other unannounced projects and a pair of Tomb Raider games.
A Pattern of Challenges
Amazon’s foray into game development has been characterized by a series of ambitious projects that ultimately failed to resonate with a broad audience. While the company has found some success in publishing titles developed by other studios, such as Smilegate’s Lost Ark and NCSoft’s Throne and Liberty, its own internally developed games have consistently struggled. The cancellation of King of Meat, following the fate of Crucible and Breakaway, reinforces a pattern of difficulty in creating and sustaining popular live-service games.
King of Meat was initially unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live in 2024, generating initial excitement with its quirky premise and visually appealing design. However, that initial buzz failed to translate into sustained player engagement. Players who purchased the game will receive full refunds through their respective platform providers, Amazon and Glowmade confirmed. WCCFTech
The game’s relatively short lifespan – launching on October 2, 2025, and closing less than six months later – underscores the challenges of breaking into the competitive gaming market. The developers encouraged players to enjoy the remaining time in the game before the servers are permanently shut down on April 9, 2026. Delisted Games
What’s Next for Amazon Game Studios?
Despite these recent setbacks, Amazon remains committed to the gaming industry. The company continues to invest in several ongoing projects, including the aforementioned Lord of the Rings MMORPG and the new Tomb Raider games. The success of these future titles will be crucial in determining whether Amazon can finally establish a significant presence in the gaming landscape. For now, the closure of King of Meat serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges inherent in game development, even for a company with Amazon’s vast resources.
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