• **King of Meat Shutting Down:** The online-only co-op action game, published by Amazon Game Studios, is being removed from digital storefronts ahead of a complete server shutdown on April 9, 2026.
  • **Brief Lifespan:** Launched on PS5 on October 7th last year, the game struggled to find a significant audience from the outset.
  • **Player Refunds Confirmed:** Purchasers on PS5 and other platforms will receive full refunds in the coming weeks from their respective platform holders.
  • **Amazon's Publishing Woes Continue:** This closure highlights a consistent pattern for Amazon Game Studios, with even its ambitious MMORPG *New World* slated for shutdown in January next year.

The Meat of the Matter: Another Amazon IP Fades

It's a story we've heard far too often in the gaming sphere, and frankly, we're getting tired of writing it. *King of Meat*, the quirky co-op action title where players construct community dungeons, has officially had the plug pulled by publisher Amazon Game Studios. Released just last year on October 7th for PS5, among other platforms, this online-only experience from developer Glowmade Games promised wacky traps and chaotic combat. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall almost immediately after launch. Our intelligence, corroborated by damning reports circulating post-launch, indicated Glowmade Games was "utterly underwhelmed" by the game's inability to attract a "sizeable audience." Its Steam numbers, as we reported at the time, were nothing short of "dire." This makes the recent removal from digital storefronts, ahead of a full shutdown, no real surprise. We've seen this play out before, and it rarely ends differently for titles failing to gain traction in the competitive online landscape.

Refunds Confirmed, Servers Set for April 2026 Blackout

For those few Contenders who actually invested in *King of Meat*, there's at least a silver lining. A full refund has been promised for players on PS5 and any other platform where the game was purchased. These refunds are expected "in the coming weeks" directly from the relevant platform holder. The official statement, posted on the title's website, lays out the timeline:
"Despite the creativity and innovation Glowmade brought to King of Meat, the game has unfortunately not found the audience we hoped for. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to conclude our investment in the game, and King of Meat's servers will close on April 9, 2026. Players will be able to access and play all existing content until then, so we encourage you to enjoy your remaining time in the game with your fellow Contenders."
While players have until April 2026 to enjoy the remaining content, let's be realistic – an online-only game with a confirmed shutdown date is unlikely to see a sudden surge in player activity.

Amazon's Persistent Publishing Puzzles

Our take at In Game News is that Amazon's foray into game publishing and development continues to be a perplexing saga of missed opportunities and significant investments yielding minimal returns. *King of Meat*'s premature demise is just the latest casualty in a long line. It's more than fair to say their track record has been rocky, to put it mildly. We only need to look at one of their most ambitious projects, the MMORPG *New World*, which itself is being "axed" in January of next year. This pattern suggests a systemic issue within Amazon Game Studios regarding audience engagement, project longevity, or perhaps, simply finding their niche in an already crowded industry. While they bring significant resources to the table, consistently pulling the plug on titles after such short lifespans raises serious questions about their long-term strategy and commitment to the gaming space. For now, we'll continue to monitor this evolving situation, hoping for a turnaround that, honestly, feels increasingly distant.