Netflix Closes AAA Game Studio Before It Ever Released a Game (theverge.com) 16
The first cracks are starting to show in Netflix's push into gaming. The Verge: First reported in Game File and confirmed by Netflix, the streaming company has quietly closed of one of its studios, the first in the three years since the company began its foray into gaming.
According to Game File, the shuttered studio was known as Blue. In 2022, Netflix announced it hired former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny to run the studio. Since then, Blue had brought on a number of game industry veterans with experience working on high profile franchises including Halo and God of War. Reportedly, Blue was developing a multi-platform AAA game for an original IP but was closed before the game could be announced or released.
According to Game File, the shuttered studio was known as Blue. In 2022, Netflix announced it hired former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny to run the studio. Since then, Blue had brought on a number of game industry veterans with experience working on high profile franchises including Halo and God of War. Reportedly, Blue was developing a multi-platform AAA game for an original IP but was closed before the game could be announced or released.
Dotted blue 69 on dotted orange background. (Score:2)
"Netflix [...] has quietly closed of one of its studios [...] the shuttered studio was known as Blue"
Well, obviously that studio was just a red herring. Netflix is the red one.
Stay in your lane, Netflix (Score:3)
No one was asking for you to release games, or even make them available. I pay you for video content. Stop raising prices for shit no one wants, and focus on what made you popular.
While we're at it, add some good content and not just more cheap-ass reality shows. Focus on better content if you feel like you need to change something.
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Normal companies will try to diversify into other adjacent field to insulate themselves from shocks within their main field of expertise.
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So open a service that competes with GameFly that I can subscribe to, if I want to.
Re: Stay in your lane, Netflix (Score:2)
They are following the Amazon Prime kitchen sink model. Except they got rid of the shipping on DVD / Blurays.
Both companies added video streaming and games, though.
It's not possible to unbundle Prime video from shipping or gaming.
I'm as unhappy with this as you are.
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netflix was originally a DVD-rental-by-mail company.
Then they basically created online movie streaming. Very successfully.
Then they started making their own content. Very successfully.
Then they expanded into renting games. At least somewhat successfully.
At some point, they shuttered the original DVD rental business.
Now they're looking at making games. They've had a misstep or two. But saying "stay in your lane" is silly when they've successfully forayed into other lanes before. And is doubly ironic wh
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Every one of those points with the exception of the last two is Netflix in their core business, which is video delivery. Yes their method of delivery has changed over the years. But it's still essentially the same service that they've always provided.
When did Netflix ever rent games? They'd planned to do it over a decade ago, and wound up pulling out of that before they even started.
https://venturebeat.com/games/... [venturebeat.com]
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Every one of those points with the exception of the last two is Netflix in their core business, which is video delivery. Yes their method of delivery has changed over the years. But it's still essentially the same service that they've always provided.
When did Netflix ever rent games? They'd planned to do it over a decade ago, and wound up pulling out of that before they even started.
https://venturebeat.com/games/... [venturebeat.com]
Their core business is entertainment on a TV screen, games are part of that.
The weird part I thought was that the games were mobile only. I'm assuming the plan was to upgrade their sticks into a console at some point, but their sticks are a much easier target since they control the hardware.
They are merely trying to (Score:2)
...beat Google's record for product cancellation.
I see... (Score:2)
"In 2022, Netflix announced it hired former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny to run the studio."
Well, *there's* your problem!
But did they? (Score:3)
How can it be a AAA game studio if it never released a AAA game? I mean, isn't that the defining feature of a AAA game studio? All that is certain is that money was spent that is now a tax write-off.
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Yup, that's what I came here to say. That's like saying that a blockbuster movie studio shut down before releasing any films. Having an AAA budget is not the same as being an AAA studio.
Very few companies make it by starting big. Of course that's why the money is lost. You start small and build up, using profits from earlier endeavors to fund the later ones.
After Concord I'm not surprised (Score:2)
Question for you gamers out there (Score:2)
How can a company have an "AAA" studio if they haven't released a single game? Do companies get to self-select their own reputation now?
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I'm an Oscar winning actor, now would you like fries with your order, sir?