Oct 23, 2024 10:50:00

Netflix shuts down its game studio without releasing a single game

Netflix, a video streaming service, has been

distributing games in addition to movies and dramas since 2021, and has acquired several development studios, including the game development studio Night School Studio . However, it has been revealed that Netflix will close the AAA game studio 'Team Blue' in October 2024.

Netflix shuts down AAA “Team Blue” SoCal gaming studio
https://www.gamefile.news/p/netflix-team-blue-socal-studio

Netflix closes AAA game studio before it ever released a game - The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/22/24276700/netflix-gaming-studio-closure-blue

Two years after unveiling a new studio aimed at building 'the next big thing in gaming,' Netflix has closed it down | PC Gamer
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/two-years-after-unveiling-a-new-studio-aimed-at-building-the-next-big-thing-in-gaming-netflix-has-closed-it-down/

When Netflix launched its game streaming service, it said that the games it planned to stream were for mobile devices, but later indicated its intention to expand its game streaming service to cloud games that can be played on TVs, PCs, etc.

Netflix begins testing game streaming that can be played on TVs, PCs, etc. - GIGAZINE

Team Blue, whose closure has been reported, is a game studio under Netflix that opened in October 2022. In order to make a full-scale entry into cloud gaming, the studio had hired big names in the gaming industry, including Chacko Sony, who was formerly executive producer of Overwatch at Blizzard , Joseph Staten, who served as creative leader for the Halo game series for many years, and Rafael Grassetti, a former Sony art director.

'We wouldn't have brought in someone this big unless we had confidence that Netflix was serious about continuing to develop games for the long term,' said Mike Verdu, who was Netflix's vice president of games at the time.

However, according to the overseas media Game File, Netflix announced that it will shut down Team Blue in October 2024, and that the three members, including Sony, Staten, and Grassetti,
Many staff members were reportedly laid off. Team Blue had previously been developing multi-platform AAA games based on original IP, but had not announced or released any games prior to the closure.

Netflix has not revealed the reason for closing Team Blue, but since game studios other than Team Blue remain in operation, foreign media PC Gamer points out that Netflix's interest may be shifting from large-scale game development to the thriving mobile platform.