Netflix recently made significant changes to its gaming lineup, removing six previously announced mobile titles: Don't Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, and Thirsty Suitors. This isn't the first time Netflix has canceled games after initial announcements; Crashlands 2 suffered a similar fate.
This shift reflects a broader change in Netflix's gaming strategy. The company appears to be prioritizing narrative-driven games and titles based on its popular shows and movies over indie games. This is evident in the upcoming additions to Netflix Stories, which will include games based on Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias.
While disappointing for those anticipating these canceled titles, most will still launch on other platforms. Don't Starve Together, initially slated for a Netflix mobile release, is now being ported to mobile by Playdigious. Rotwood remains in early access on Steam. Tales of the Shire, originally planned for Fall 2024, has been delayed until early 2025, and the Netflix Games logo's removal from its website suggests it's no longer part of the Netflix Games catalog. The cancellation of Compass Point: West, a Next Games title (a Netflix subsidiary), is particularly noteworthy. Finally, Thirsty Suitors will still launch on Steam and consoles, but its mobile release via Netflix is canceled.
For a complete overview of Netflix's current mobile gaming offerings, visit the Google Play Store. For further Netflix news, read about the upcoming additions to Netflix Stories.
