Amazon Web Services is experiencing a significant outage on Wednesday, taking down numerous online gaming platforms and digital services.
Players attempting to access Fortnite, ARC Raiders, VRChat, and other popular games reported error messages and connection failures. Downdetector, a website tracking service outages, showed a surge in complaints, reflecting the scope of the disruption
AWS, a major provider of cloud infrastructure for internet services and online gaming, has suffered multiple outages in 2025, marking the third significant crash this year.
While AWS’s official status page indicated that all systems were operational, users across North America, Europe, and Asia reported widespread service failures.
The affected platforms include Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Epic Games Store, Dead by Daylight, Among Us, Apex Legends, Rust, Elden Ring, and VRChat.
Embark Studios and EA services also faced temporary interruptions. Experts note that the outage highlights the growing reliance of the gaming industry on cloud infrastructure.
“Cloud outages of this magnitude demonstrate the vulnerability of modern online services,” said Dr. Megan Curtis, a digital infrastructure analyst at the University of California, Berkeley.
“When AWS experiences downtime, the ripple effect is massive because so many platforms depend on its servers for data and connectivity.”
Industry consultant Mark Reynolds added, “Gamers today expect seamless experiences, especially during holidays when online play is most popular.
Interruptions like these can erode trust, even if they are temporary.”
AWS did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but previous outages have been attributed to technical failures in specific data centers, software updates, or capacity constraints.
According to Downdetector, reports of outages peaked at over 150,000 globally within two hours of the incident. This figure is comparable to prior AWS disruptions in March and August, which similarly affected millions of users.
Analysts estimate that cloud providers host more than 70 percent of the world’s online gaming infrastructure, making large-scale outages an industry wide concern.
Players expressed frustration at the timing of the outage. “I was planning to play Fortnite with my younger brother during the holiday break,” said Jordan Lee, a 17 year old from Chicago.
“It’s not just a game. It’s how we connect now, and this feels like everything is on pause.” Another gamer, Fatima Khan from London, described trying to access VRChat.
“I kept getting error screens. I understand technical issues happen, but the lack of updates is stressful,” she said. Game developers also noted operational challenges.
“We rely on AWS to run our matchmaking servers. Outages mean delays in updates and disrupted events,” said Alex Chen, a studio engineer for an indie multiplayer game.
Experts caution that outages may continue if dependency on centralized cloud services persists without adequate redundancy. “Diversification of cloud infrastructure is crucial,” Dr. Curtis said.
“Platforms may need to consider hybrid solutions or secondary providers to mitigate risks.” Industry analysts also expect AWS to conduct internal investigations and enhance monitoring to prevent future interruptions, though precise timelines for recovery remain uncertain.
The ongoing AWS outage underscores the critical role cloud infrastructure plays in online gaming and digital services.
Millions of users worldwide faced disruptions to popular games including Fortnite, ARC Raiders, and VRChat, reflecting the broader impact of cloud dependency.
While AWS engineers work to resolve the issue, the incident serves as a reminder of the interconnected nature of modern online platforms and the potential consequences of centralized service failures.
