News that Amazon has founded its own game studio appears to have surprised very few.

The revelation that said studio is set to focus on Facebook titles, however, has raised rather more eyebrows.

The online retail giant has taken to the studio's newly launched website to explain the decision, claiming its move into the games development arena is one designed to meet the needs of its audience.

Classic move

"We know that many Amazon customers enjoy playing games – including free-to-play social games – and thanks to Amazon's know-how, we believe we can deliver a great, accessible gaming experience that gamers and our customers can play any time," said the firm of its first release, Living Classics.

"Amazon Game Studios is exactly what it sounds like: a new team at Amazon that's focused on creating innovative, fun and well-crafted games. Our first title, Living Classics, is debuting on Facebook today."

The game, which fuses together Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and King Arthur, looks set to be the first of many releases from the outfit, though whether it will work to support Amazon's own platform – the Android-based Kindle Fire – is unclear.

Commentators have already suggested the firm may be reluctant to develop games for its own device, wary of upsetting third party outfits already behind the tablet.

Its unveiling, however, comes little over a month after Amazon launched Game Circle - the firm's achievements platform that tracks trophies and accomplishments.



[source: Amazon]