Netflix’s Gaming Ambitions Hit Roadblock as Studio Closes
In a surprising turn of events, Netflix’s foray into the gaming industry has encountered its first major setback. The streaming giant has confirmed the closure of one of its gaming studios, marking a significant moment in the company’s three-year-old gaming initiative.
According to reports from Game File and subsequently confirmed by Netflix, the shuttered entity has been identified as Blue Studio. This closure represents the first such instance since Netflix began its gaming venture in 2021.
Blue Studio, led by former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny, had assembled a team of industry veterans from renowned franchises such as Halo and God of War. The studio was reportedly developing a multi-platform AAA game based on an original IP. However, the project never reached the announcement or release stage before the studio’s closure.
Netflix’s gaming journey began with a focus on hyper-casual mobile games. Since then, the platform has expanded its gaming library to include mobile exclusive ports of iconic titles like Grand Theft Auto and Hades, as well as internally developed exclusives such as Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit and Oxenfree II: Lost Signals.
To strengthen its position in the gaming market, Netflix has been actively acquiring and establishing studios. Recent additions include a mobile game studio in Helsinki, a new studio in southern California, and the acquisition of Spry Fox, the developer behind Cozy Grove.
The closure of Blue Studio may signal a potential shift in Netflix’s gaming strategy, possibly indicating a pause in its expansion and AAA game development ambitions. As the streaming service continues to navigate the competitive gaming landscape, industry observers will be closely watching its next moves in this evolving sector.