Amazon Games opens new development studio in Europe

Amazon Games today announced the opening of a new European game development studio in Bucharest, Romania, joining development teams in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego and Seattle. This new studio dedicated to supporting the Amazon Games portfolio of games allows Amazon to strengthen its commitment to development and publishing.

Amazon Games is focused on developing and publishing great games, and we have an ambitious long-term roadmap ahead of us“,
said Christopher Hartmannvice president of Amazon Games.
“Our desire to develop our games portfolio has naturally led us to expand our internal development teams in Europe. Bucharest is known for being one of the best emerging European cities for game development and we can’t wait to discover the talents that reside there.“

Amazon Games has recruited industry veteran Cristian Pana to lead the studio. With over 20 years of experience creating video games, this former general manager of Ubisoft Bucharest has helmed some of the biggest games and franchises, including Tom Clancy’s The Division, The Crew, Far Cry and Avatar, as well as various genres, from driving games to open-world action and adventure games, to shooters and role-playing games.

I’m excited to join Amazon Games at a time when the team is actively working towards an exciting roadmap“,
said Christian Panastudio head of Amazon Games Bucharest.
“I have built and led exceptional teams in the past and know that this region of Europe is a hotspot for some of the best talent in gaming.“

Check out the interview below to learn more about Cristian, his game development philosophy, and why he’s excited to join the Amazon Games team.

This new studio is part of Amazon Games’ vision of developing and publishing games that encourage the emergence of a community around its titles. Amazon Games’ expanding portfolio includes two already available games, New World and Lost Ark, announced projects such as Tomb Raider, The Lord of the Rings and Throne and Liberty, as well as unannounced projects from San Diego Studios and from Montreal, and the independent studio Glowmade in the United Kingdom.

The incredible journey of Cristian Pana, from accountant to manager of the new Amazon Games studio in Bucharest

A Ubisoft veteran is bringing his wealth of experience to a brand new Amazon Games studio.

Amazon Games is strengthening its commitment to delivering world-class video games with the launch of its new in-house development studio in Bucharest, Romania. Leading this exciting project is veteran video game developer Cristian Pana, who boasts over 20 years of impressive experience with renowned publishers such as Ubisoft.

Although Cristian is a well-known and respected figure in the gaming community as a leader and champion of all things gaming, his story begins far from the industry he now calls home.

I started my career as a game tester over 20 years ago, here in Bucharest“,
explain Christian.
“It was a complete break from my career as an accountant. I always wanted to work in games. When I was younger, I dreamed of a job where I could play games for a living, and tester came closest. As soon as the opportunity presented itself to me, I immediately grabbed it to join this wonderful and ever-changing entertainment industry. I have loved every day of my playing career since“.

During his childhood, Cristian was an avid gamer, playing hours of his favorite titles, such as Railroad Tycoon, Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros. After his time as a tester, Cristian discovered a variety of roles and disciplines in game development, including Compliance Specialist, Project Manager, Producer, Executive Producer and much more. His career has taken him to work in many studios around the world, including Shanghai, Toronto, Montreal, Lyon, Newcastle, Malmö and again in Bucharest in 2020 when he was appointed General Manager of Ubisoft Studios in Romania and Serbia.

With over 20 years of experience at Ubisoft, Cristian has overseen various parts of the development of several successful AAA titles, including Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Driver San Francisco, Far Cry 3, Splinter Cell Blacklist, The Crew and Tom Clancy’s The Division .

Many projects come to mind at different points in my career, but if I have to choose one that I’m most proud of, it would be Tom Clancy’s The Division“,
said Christian.
“This is the game that, after the launch of the first title, I took over the brand and was tasked with developing the post-launch content for the first iteration of the game, while also launching the plans and team for the second iteration. The Division 2 is going strong, even five years after its launch, and I’m delighted with the results of the game. I remain convinced that it is one of the best productions we have worked on.“

Cristian attributes the success of these titles to working with a fantastic team of collaborators, and that’s precisely what he’s looking to build at Amazon Games’ new studio in Bucharest.

The members of my team must above all be passionate“,
did he declare.
“The entertainment industry is interesting and dynamic, and you need to know it. I am also looking for motivated, ambitious people who are not satisfied with the status quo. These qualities make it possible to create very dynamic teams and to adapt quickly to different opportunities. I like people who are responsible, who own their role on the team, who are proud of what they create and, last but not least, who play what they do.“

When it comes to leadership, Cristian acknowledges that former colleagues have inspired him at different stages of his career, allowing him to become a more successful and responsible leader.

I like to give a lot of responsibility and autonomy to team members“,
said Christian.
“I like to step in, help and support whenever appropriate, and I am always available to the team. I also want to be transparent. I think it’s essential that everyone has the right amount of information, because it helps us progress in many areas. This helps us to be decisive and get things done faster.“

We are excited to welcome Cristian to the Amazon Games team, given his diverse and proven experience alongside some of the best talent in the industry.

What attracted me the most was the fact that Amazon could bring something and positively influence game development in Europe“,
said Christian.
“Amazon is an exciting company to work for, and we hope the new studio in Romania will attract plenty of industry talent.“