Netflix reportedly shut down a game studio it was planning to use to develop high-end AAA games before it could even announce the game.
Game File reports that Netflix will close its Southern California-based “Team Blue” studio, which was assigned to create big-budget games that can be played on multiple devices.
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Netflix had some of the biggest names in gaming on board, including the creators and producers of games like God of War, Halo, and Overwatch from studios like Sony Santa Monica, Bungie, 343 Industries, and Blizzard.
One of those hires, Joseph Staten, who left the Xbox-owned studio to work at Netflix, said at the time that his move was to become “creative director of all-new AAA multiplatform games and original IP.” He and two other major gaming figures are currently not at the studio, Game File can confirm.
Netflix primarily focuses on mobile games that can be enjoyed on iOS and Android phones and tablets, but other games can be played on your PC or Mac through Netflix.com or the Smart TV app.
Some of the standout games that came out on the console include Sonic Mania Plus, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, and some of the older GTA games. However, many games are in the more casual realm.
If Netflix were to start moving into AAA titles, perhaps leveraging cloud streaming, to compete with PC and console providers, it would mean a bigger entry into the gaming space and would likely give AAA games a higher rating. This would have been a significant benefit for subscribers. You can try it out without purchasing a dedicated game console or subscription.
Whether this report marks the end of those ambitions remains to be seen.
