As reported by Stephen Totilo on Game File, Netflix has decided to close one of its video game studios in Southern California, less than two years after it opened.
Established in 2022, the studio, internally referred to as the “Blue Team”, was created along with all of Netflix’s other initiatives, as the company has aggressively invested in various sectors in recent years. Starting with gaming, its catalogue has been steadily improving, as evidenced by the various titles on the way (including the exclusive Monument Valley 3). In recent years, the company has made several significant hires, indicating ambitious goals in the sector.
As noted by Totilo, in the spring of 2023, Netflix’s SoCal studio brought on board Joseph Staten, who had been the creative head of the Halo franchise at Bungie and 343 Industries. Staten moved from the Xbox realm to Netflix to work “as the creative director for a brand-new AAA multiplatform game and an original IP,” it was announced at the time.
However, the company is now officially shutting down the California studio, marking a significant step back from its initial investment. This has been confirmed by a Netflix representative to Totilo.
