Netflix may have gained a reputation for canceling TV shows before their time, but their latest shutdown is even more devastating in some ways. According to Deadline, Boss Fight, the game company acquired by the streaming giant in 2022, has been closed down, leaving many creators out of work.
Boss Fight was responsible for Squid Game Unleashed, a mobile game that became the company’s fifth most-downloaded game ever with over 10 million downloads. In a statement on LinkedIn, Boss Fight CEO, David Rippy, said:
“Rough news, for sure, but I’m very grateful for the time we had at Netflix,” he wrote. “We worked with some awesome people and made many games that I’m very proud of, including Squid Game Unleashed, which hit #1 in 26 countries. You’ll see lots of Boss Fighters with similar posts. Please consider them if you have any open roles.”
Netflix’s decision to jump into the gaming market really kicked off almost four years ago, and the acquisition of Boss Fight was one of their stepping stones. Although the decision to shut down the company may seem like Netflix admitting defeat, that is not the case at all, as they recently announced that many new games are on the way, such as Tetris Time Warp, Boggle Party, and Lego Party, and they have started integrating games into the main Netflix platform. Despite having many IPs that could follow Squid Game Unleashed, the priority of Netflix’s gaming arm has recently been aimed at creating low-cost games using some of their owned IPs.
Netflix Is Getting in On a Different Game Bandwagon
Whatever happens with its gaming arm in the future, one thing for certain is that both video and board games are becoming the backbone of many streaming platforms and that is no different for Netflix. Among the many video game-based projects to have been developed by Netflix are Gears of War, Spinter Cell, and recently picked up Halo after its cancellation at Paramount. However, they have also recently started joining another popular trend, board game adaptations.
Earlier this month, Netflix announced a new reality TV show is in development based on Cluedo, and in the last few days added the strategy game Catan to the list. Catan in particular seems to be a big deal, as it is already being pitched as a universe of TV shows and movies. Announcing the partnership with game publisher Asmodee, head of scripted series, Jinny Howe, said:
“We knew landing this deal would be as game-changing as a well-placed settlement, so we decided to pool our resources across series, features, animation, and games and show Asmodee the full power of Netflix when we work together. Hardcore ‘Settlers’ are going to lose their minds, and new fans will finally learn just how important a sheep trade can be.”
Whether adapting games or turning IPs into games, it looks like Netflix is completely immersed in this world, and subscribers are never likely to be short of one type of game project or another.