Netflix closes AAA game studio and fires renowned developers

Netflix is ​​quite popular because of its film productions — and is certainly one of the most coveted streaming services in the world. In 2021, the North American giant wanted to venture into the realm of video games, but it seems that this venture did not turn out as many expected.

According to information from journalist and insider Stephen Totilo, Netflix would have closed the activities of its AAA game studiowhich is based in Southern California and is known as “Team Blue” within the company.

Industry veterans were fired from Netflix Games

It’s worth remembering that the streaming giant spent the last few years hiring several veteran developers to make up the studio’s team, which was supposedly working on a completely original high-budget game.

Veteran Netflix Games devs were fired from the company, according to journalist Stephen Totilo.Fonte:  Netflix

With the closure of activities reported by Totilo, the developers Chacko Sonn (former executive producer of Overwatch), Joseph Staten (veteran former creative director of Halo) e Rafael Grassetti (former art director of God of War) were disconnected from Netflix Games. They all joined the company in 2023.

“In my professional life, there is nothing I love more than collaborating with others to build worlds filled with iconic characters, deep mysteries and endless adventures,” Staten told IGN at the time. “So today, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve joined Netflix Games as creative director on a new, all-original AAA cross-platform game. Let’s go.”

Netflix has not yet officially commented on the studio’s closure. However, as reported by Totilo in Game Filethis decision may be related to a change in the company’s plans in relation to the games market.

Netflix Games currently has more than 100 titles, despite low demand

If you don’t know, Netflix Games is a vertical of the company that guarantees subscribers access to a modest library of games. Currently, more than 100 titles are available there and can be accessed in all types of subscriptions without ads.

Netflix Games currently has a catalog of more than 100 games, despite low user demand.Fonte:  Netflix

Most of the games are based on Netflix’s own successful series and films, such as Emily in Paris, Too Hot to Handle, Virgin River, Chicken Run: Eggstraction, Squid Game: Unleashed and many others.

However, according to a report carried out by the company Apptopia in August last year, less than 1% of Netflix subscribers access this library of games. According to Netflix, this trajectory is expected and is not very different from projections they have previously seen in other situations within the company.

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