Netflix Axes Its Squid Game Mobile Game Studio
▼ Summary
– Netflix has shut down Boss Fight Entertainment, the studio behind the mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed.
– Netflix acquired Boss Fight in March 2022 to accelerate its gaming offerings, citing the studio’s experience and the success of Squid Game: Unleashed.
– The closure occurred over three years after the acquisition and follows changes to Netflix’s gaming strategy, with the company declining to comment.
– Boss Fight co-founder David Rippy and director David Luehmann expressed gratitude for their time at Netflix and pride in their work following the closure.
– The shutdown is part of broader industry layoffs, including cuts at Funcom and Cloud Chamber, despite their game successes.
In a surprising strategic shift, Netflix has officially closed Boss Fight Entertainment, the mobile game development studio responsible for creating the popular Squid Game: Unleashed title. This decision comes just over three years after the streaming giant acquired the studio in March 2022, signaling a potential realignment within Netflix’s broader gaming ambitions. At the time of purchase, Netflix executives praised Boss Fight’s expertise across multiple game genres, expressing confidence that the studio would help accelerate the delivery of high-quality games to subscribers worldwide.
Despite frequently celebrating the success of Squid Game: Unleashed, noting it reached the number one free action game spot in 107 countries upon its debut, Netflix has now shuttered the very team behind that achievement. During a recent earnings call, co-CEO Greg Peters even highlighted Unleashed as a prime example of the narrative-driven, franchise-based games Netflix aims to produce more of. The closure therefore raises questions about the consistency of the company’s gaming strategy moving forward.
News of the shutdown first surfaced through LinkedIn posts from affected staff members. Boss Fight co-founder and former CEO David Rippy acknowledged the situation, stating, “Well, word has gotten around quickly about Boss Fight’s closure. Thanks, everyone who reached out today. Rough news, for sure, but I’m very grateful for the time we had at Netflix.” Similarly, David Luehmann, a director of game development at the studio, reflected on his decade-long tenure, saying, “After 10+ great years working at Boss Fight, the last few as part of Netflix, the time has come for the studio to close down. I am very proud of all the people, work, and games we’ve released.”
Netflix has declined to provide any official comment regarding the closure. This move aligns with a wider pattern of job cuts and studio shutdowns across the video game industry. Recent examples include layoffs at Funcom, developer of the successful Dune: Awakening, and staff reductions at Cloud Chamber, the studio currently working on the next BioShock installment. The termination of Boss Fight Entertainment underscores the volatile nature of the gaming sector, even for projects tied to globally recognized intellectual property.
(Source: The Verge)