A failure in Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers disrupted several digital services, including the game Fortnite, on Monday morning (20). The global outage affected over 500 companies using AWS infrastructure, such as Snapchat, Zoom, and Roblox. Amazon reported that systems began stabilizing around 7 a.m. (Brasília time). Technicians are working to fully restore services.
The disruption caused issues in entertainment, education, and financial platforms. Users reported difficulties accessing popular games and video conferencing apps. AWS, a leader in the cloud computing market, competes with Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure.
- Affected services include Fortnite, Roblox, Snapchat, Zoom, and Duolingo.
- The outage is the largest since the CrowdStrike incident in 2024.
- Amazon has not yet detailed the cause of the issue.
Impact on digital services
The AWS failure led to disruptions in widely used platforms. Games like Fortnite and Roblox became unavailable, frustrating millions of players.
Apps like Snapchat and Zoom also faced instability, impacting communication and productivity. Users reported errors when trying to access these services.
Amazon’s response
AWS identified the issue around 5 a.m. (Brasília time). The company stated that most services began recovering.
Technicians continue to investigate the problem’s origin. Amazon promised a detailed report after resolution.
Scale of the issue
The outage impacted over 500 companies relying on AWS. Platforms like Prime Video, Perplexity, and Coinbase were affected.
Financial services like Robinhood reported transaction failures. Ride-sharing apps like Lyft also experienced instability.
Media companies, including HBO, faced streaming difficulties. The outage highlighted global reliance on AWS infrastructure.
Cloud market context
AWS is the world’s leading cloud computing provider. The platform supports startups to large corporations.
Monday’s failure reignited discussions about digital service centralization. Competitors like Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure also face stability pressures.
History of outages
In 2024, a CrowdStrike failure affected sectors like healthcare and aviation. The AWS incident is the largest since then.
Amazon faced minor outages in 2021 and 2023. The company invests in redundancy to prevent failures, but large-scale issues persist.
Next steps
AWS prioritizes full service restoration. The company is monitoring servers to prevent further disruptions.
An official statement is expected to clarify the outage’s causes. Users await information on potential compensations.