Netflix Cancels Six Previously Announced Games, Defends Controversial Split-Season Releases Strategy For Being A ‘Creator-Driven’ Choice

Highlights

• Netflix cancelled six previously announced games as part of its gaming lineup adjustments.
• Cancelled games include titles like Thirsty Suitors and Don’t Starve Together.
• Netflix is expanding its gaming catalogue with upcoming titles like the WWE 2K series and focusing on big-name franchises, narrative-driven games and games for kids.
• The platform defends its split-season release strategy as a ‘creator-driven’ choice for a natural emotional break in their shows.

Netflix has been making changes to its gaming lineup adjusting its library of free-to-play games for subscribers. As part of these shifts, the company has cancelled six previously announced games that were set to launch on iOS and Android through its platform.

According to a report published on What’s On Netflix, the cancelled titles include Thirsty Suitors, Compass Point: West, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, Don’t Starve Together, Lab Rat and Rotwood. The last three were being developed by Klei Entertainment.

Netflix confirmed the decision to Engadget explaining that removing these titles was “just a natural part of adjusting our portfolio as we learn more about what our members like.”

While Netflix has dropped Tales of the Shire from its lineup, the game is still set to launch next month on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Similarly, Thirsty Suitors, an action RPG that received positive reviews upon its 2023 release on PC and consoles, will remain available outside Netflix. Meanwhile, Don’t Starve Together was an expansion of the 2013 survival hit Don’t Starve.

Netflix’s Gaming Service Strategy

Netflix has been revamping its gaming division since bringing in a new leader last year. The company has already removed several games from its catalogue and in October, it shut down its AAA game studio Team Blue.

Meanwhile, former Netflix executive Leanne Loombe, who helped bring Hades and Grand Theft Auto to the platform, has since left to lead Annapurna Interactive.

Despite these cancellations, Netflix is still expanding its gaming catalogue. The WWE 2K series is set to arrive later this year, and the company is focusing on Big-name franchises, Narrative-driven games Party and couch co-op titles and Games for kids.

Netflix Defends Split-Season Releases, Calls It a ‘Creator-Driven’ Choice

Netflix has long been known for its binge-watch model, where full seasons drop all at once. But in recent years, the company has been splitting seasons of some of its biggest shows and now Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria has explained why during an interview with Deadline.

According to Bajaria, the trend began due to COVID and industry strikes allowing Netflix to release shows sooner rather than making audiences wait longer. But beyond that, she says creators themselves prefer it in some cases.

“Some of those have been for reasons because it was during Covid and strikes to get the shows on so audiences don’t have to wait for a long time,” Bajaria told Deadline. “A lot of times it’s been creator-driven. Peter Morgan on The Crown, Shonda Rhimes on Bridgerton, there was a way that they wanted to structure or write it because they felt it was an actual, natural emotional break. So there’s no set way, it depends on what’s best for the show,” she added.

Shows like Stranger Things, The Crown, Bridgerton and Emily in Paris have all had split-season releases. However, the Deadline report points out that “Netflix has not used the half-season drop model in several months, with three of the streamer’s biggest shows, Squid Game, The Night Agent and Virgin River, all getting new instalments put out as a season binge.”

When asked about the “mixed results” of the split-season approach such as viewer dissatisfaction or losing audience interest between Part 1 and Part 2, Bajaria disagreed and said, “I’m not sure it was mixed results.”

Netflix hasn’t shared detailed data on how successful the split-season model has been. However, the fact that it keeps using this strategy suggests it works for the company.

Splitting seasons has a business advantage for Netflix as it keeps subscribers around longer and builds hype for both halves of a season, all while maintaining its binge-drop identity.

FAQs

Q1. Which previously announced games did Netflix cancel?

Answer. Netflix cancelled six previously announced games, including Thirsty Suitors, Compass Point: West, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, Don’t Starve Together, Lab Rat, and Rotwood.

Q2. What is Netflix’s strategy for its gaming service despite the recent cancellations?

Answer. Netflix is expanding its gaming catalogue, with upcoming titles like the WWE 2K series, focusing on big-name franchises, narrative-driven games, party and couch co-op titles, and games for kids.

Q3. Why does Netflix use the split-season release strategy for some of its shows?

Answer. According to Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria, the split-season releases are a ‘creator-driven’ choice, preferred by creators like Peter Morgan on The Crown and Shonda Rhimes on Bridgerton for a natural emotional break in their shows.

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