Some might say Amazon has always had a killer instinct, but now it owns Double Helix, the team behind the popular "Killer Instinct" game on Microsoft's Xbox One console.
The news came out through a recruiting event jointly hosted by the two organizations. Amazon did little more to confirm the acquisition than to say the transaction is "part of our ongoing mission to build innovative games for customers.
There were a few developers on Twitter who seemed completely taken aback by the news:
So Amazon bought a video game studio ? http://t.co/NOfCEYi9yE I need to process that…
— Guillaume Khayat (@meego) February 6, 2014
Others were more intrigued . . .
Very interesting. Amazon buys game studio... starts 1st party game development...who would have thunk it....http:/ http://t.co/NF7CaDJUzp
— Keith McCurdy (@KeithMcCurdy) February 6, 2014
"Amazon acquires Double Helix, the games studio behind the latest Killer Instinct http://t.co/hUf3Tbrz1K" Interesting move
— Zac Paladino (@Paladizm) February 6, 2014
Looks like Amazon is getting into games too: Amazon buys 'Killer Instinct' developer Double Helix Games http://t.co/Z7INzxLGnz
— Wayne Emanuel (@wayne_emanuel) February 6, 2014
...but there were also a number of experienced developers who were hugely supportive and happy by the combination.
Congrats to Patrick Gilmore and the team at Double Helix! http://t.co/rXDvOjFwMi
— Joby Otero (@JobyOtero) February 6, 2014
Great news for Amazon! Welcome @DoubleHelixGame: http://t.co/vsyfzBK15W
— Peter Heinrich (@peterdotgames) February 6, 2014
Congrats to both @DoubleHelixGame and @Amazon on what is surely going to be a beautiful relationship. http://t.co/2IFoJLsXrp
— Alex Sherer (@cymcyms) February 6, 2014
The big unanswered question, however--and one Amazon is unlikely to answer anytime soon--is whether Amazon might use Double Helix as a springboard to move into completely new areas of the market. Developers made their hopes clear.
Amazon Acquires Video Gaming Studio Double Helix Games | http://t.co/BiY7MVvtlf More fuel for the Amazon console Fire #Games
— Ian Gillespie (@IGILLM) February 6, 2014
Sign of a console to come? http://t.co/ejKzDzAY9r
— FATHI Hamid (@allfathi) February 6, 2014