Netflix to shut down two game studios amid pivot to TV party games
Netflix is closing gaming studios Night School Studio and Moonloot Games as it shifts focus toward party games streamed to TVs. The move also includes eliminating additional roles within its games division.
Netflix has announced it will shut down two of its video game studios as part of a broader shift toward developing party games designed for television screens. The decision marks a further step away from the company's earlier mobile-focused gaming strategy.
One of the studios being closed is Night School Studio, known for the Oxenfree game series. Netflix acquired the studio in 2021. The studio recently released a TV-based horror experience called Unhinged and launched a mobile game tied to Black Mirror in 2025. The other studio set to close is Helsinki-based Moonloot Games, founded in 2022.
Shift toward TV gaming
Netflix's push into TV-based gaming began in earnest late last year, representing a pivot away from its earlier approach centered on prestige indie mobile titles. Many of those acclaimed indie games have since been dropped from Netflix's mobile lineup, as the company now concentrates on four categories: kids, party, narrative, and so-called "mainstream" games.
Netflix spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher told The Verge that as the company continues prioritizing these areas, it sees an opportunity to become more focused in its execution, prompting organizational changes to match those priorities. Beyond the studio closures, Netflix is also eliminating additional roles within its games business. Among those affected is Tara Voelker, who said she was the sole accessibility specialist on the gaming team.
This is not the first time Netflix has scaled back its gaming operations. Last year, the company shut down the studio responsible for a Squid Game mobile title and sold Cozy Grove developer Spry Fox back to its original owners. In 2024, Netflix also closed a AAA studio that never managed to release a game.
