Netflix has taken significant steps to enter the video game industry. Currently, the company behind the popular series and movie streaming service has several development studios to offer new experiences to mobile and PC players.
However, it has been revealed that Netflix recently stumbled in its gaming strategy, as it shut down one of its most important studios, internally known as Team Blue. This team had an ambitious goal: to create a new multiplatform AAA franchise.
To achieve this, Netflix hired significant industry talents and veterans from iconic franchises like Halo, Overwatch, and God of War. With the closure, the company lost one of its most prominent internal development teams.
Netflix shuts down a studio led by Joseph Staten and other veterans
Recent reports revealed that Netflix closed its Blue Team, an internal development studio located in California, USA. The team was one of the company’s most prominent gaming projects, consisting of Joseph Staten, former creative lead of Halo, and Chacko Sonny, who was the executive producer of Overwatch.
Additionally, Rafael Grassetti, former art director of Santa Monica and God of War, was also part of the team. It’s known that Blue Team was working on a high-budget new franchise intended for a multiplatform release.
According to the details, Netflix closed the studio this month, and the three mentioned creatives no longer work for the company. As of now, no further details about this move or the project the team was working on have been revealed.
Despite this setback, Netflix Games still has other talented teams working on various projects. This gaming division includes Night School Studio, Boss Fight Entertainment, Next Games, Spry Fox, and another studio founded from scratch in Helsinki.
Currently, Netflix offers over 90 games through its subscription service. For now, it’s unclear if the company’s gaming plans have changed due to the closure of Blue Team.
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