Amazon web3 — that’s a pairing of terms you don’t see too frequently. To the disinterested in blockchain, you could be forgiven for thinking Amazon isn’t interested in web3, but they are, and this latest partnership with Immutable is another indicator.
Amazon Web3 and the Foundations That Were Quietly Laid
In the summer of 2022, I met with Amazon about blockchain. More specifically, I met with AWS for Games about blockchain in gaming. Amazon had clearly begun a multitude of steps into the space and I worked with them on one corner of it. That corner had nothing to do with arguably Amazon’s most famous web3 venture: their NFT marketplace.
Amazon’s NFT marketplace has been in the works for some time and the rumors of its launch spike occasionally. In March of this year, for instance, several media outlets reported that it was to open its doors the next month; it did not. This isn’t to say it isn’t en route, however slow to arrive it may be.
In addition to this, Amazon has had many involvements with web3, particularly through AWS (Amazon Web Services), working with the likes of Nestlé, Sony Music, and BMW. Take a look at Blockchain on AWS for example. Amazon is also involved in infrastructure for external chains and I would be surprised if AWS isn’t integral to web3.
From a gaming perspective, AWS teamed up with Oasys and Ubisoft for a web3 gaming hackathon, and more recently, gave away free NFTs for Mojo Melee, a web3 game, via Prime Gaming. This isn’t the first time Prime Gaming has given away NFTs either, with Mythical Games’ Blankos Block Party NFTs previously being featured on the platform.
So, needless to say, Amazon and web3 gaming are well acquainted and the newly announced partnership with Immutable shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Immutable and Amazon Web Services Partner for Web3 Gaming
In a recent announcement by Immutable, the web3 gaming platform has partnered with AWS in a multitude of ways. Firstly, Immutable has joined the Amazon ISV Accelerate Program which gives them access to “expert resources” as well as major game studios. This also allows Immutable to provide AWS Cloud credits to game studios. Not to mention, AWS Account Managers will look to generate leads and onboard studios into the Immutable ecosystem.
Much of Immutable’s infrastructure has been built with Amazon and AWS, so this partnership is a natural extension. Immutable uses serverless architecture built on Amazon EventBridge and AWS Lambda, in the interest of scaling, for example.
Final Thoughts
Amazon is a driving force in damn-near everything. Immutable is a driving force in web3 gaming. So, it’s the sort of partnership we want to see. However, Amazon’s role in web3 is quickly becoming more profound than many realize and a lot of that is tied up in gaming specifically.
Since the purchase of Twitch.tv and the formation of Amazon Games, the studio behind New World, Amazon has appeared to be “all in” on gaming. The growth of the games industry has been staggering in the past few decades and although it may have tapered slightly (it had to; there are only so many humans in a position to play games!), its importance is undisputed. An interesting trend we are watching unfold is the integration of other forms of entertainment (artistic creation, concerts and live events, and so on) into games.
Amazon has identified the role gaming will play in our future and what technologies will be integral to it, with blockchain being a key player. Immutable is one of the frontrunners for blockchain gaming ecosystems at present, so they could forge a formidable alliance.
Lead image by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
