Mobile Gaming Studio Abruptly Closed
Netflix has reportedly shut down Boss Fight Entertainment, the studio behind the successful mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed, according to multiple posts from former staffers on LinkedIn. The closure comes just over three years after Netflix acquired the studio in March 2022, with executives at the time praising Boss Fight’s “extensive experience building hit games across genres.”
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What makes this shutdown particularly notable is the timing. Netflix executives had been publicly celebrating the success of Squid Game: Unleashed, which reportedly became the #1 Free Action Game in 107 countries upon release. During this week’s earnings call, co-CEO Greg Peters even pointed to Unleashed as exactly the type of franchise-based narrative game Netflix wants to pursue.
Contrast Between Public Praise and Private Action
The studio closure creates a striking contrast between Netflix’s public statements and its internal decisions. While Peters was telling investors about the success of games like Squid Game: Unleashed, sources indicate the company was already planning to shutter the studio responsible for that very success.
“Hi everyone – well, word has gotten around quickly about Boss Fight’s closure,” wrote Boss Fight co-founder and former CEO David Rippy in a LinkedIn post. “Rough news, for sure, but I’m very grateful for the time we had at Netflix.”
Another senior staffer, David Luehmann, director of game development at the studio, hinted at unrealized potential in his post: “I am very proud of all the people, work, and games we’ve released. I wish you could see what we had cooking!”
Broader Gaming Industry Context
This shutdown occurs against a backdrop of persistent layoffs across the gaming industry. Analysts note similar cutbacks at companies like Funcom, developer of the successful Dune: Awakening, and Cloud Chamber, the studio working on the next BioShock title.
For Netflix specifically, this represents the second major gaming studio closure in recent memory. The streaming giant reportedly shut down its AAA game studio last year before it ever released a title, suggesting a pattern of strategic pivots in its gaming ambitions.
Strategic Shift Toward TV Gaming
Sources familiar with Netflix’s gaming strategy indicate the company is now focusing heavily on party games designed for television play, using smartphones as controllers. During the recent earnings call, Peters described this approach as “judicious” expansion into interactive experiences.
The move away from mobile-focused studios like Boss Fight toward TV-based gaming represents a significant strategic realignment. Industry observers suggest this might reflect Netflix’s desire to leverage its core television platform rather than competing directly in the crowded mobile gaming market.
Netflix has declined to comment on the Boss Fight closure, according to reports. The company’s gaming division appears to be in a state of transition, with the shutdown of established studios occurring alongside new initiatives that better align with Netflix’s traditional strengths in living room entertainment.
