Netflix has been making some significant adjustments to its gaming strategy recently. They've released an exciting lineup of upcoming shows and games for the year, but eagle-eyed fans noticed some notable absences. For instance, Netflix Games has decided to drop Don’t Starve Together from its mobile offerings, and it's not alone in this fate.
There Are Six Names Missing!
Netflix has opted to remove six previously announced games from its mobile gaming catalog. If you were eagerly anticipating playing Don’t Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, or Thirsty Suitors through Netflix Games, you'll need to look elsewhere. The streaming giant is refining its gaming portfolio, and these titles did not meet their criteria. This isn't the first time Netflix has pulled the plug on games after initial announcements; Crashlands 2 was another title that was removed, even after beta testing had begun in some regions.
This move is part of a broader shift in Netflix's gaming strategy. They are increasingly focusing on narrative-driven games and titles that tie into their popular shows and movies, rather than indie games. A prime example is Netflix Stories, which will feature popular shows like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.
So, What About the Games that Netflix Promised Like Don’t Starve Together?
While these games won't be available through Netflix, most are still set to launch on other platforms. Don’t Starve Together, initially announced in June 2024 as part of a trio of Klei Entertainment games coming to Netflix, will now be ported to mobile by Playdigious. Similarly, Lab Rat and Rotwood, the other two Klei Entertainment titles, have also been dropped from Netflix's plans, though Rotwood remains available in early access on Steam.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a cozy life sim, was originally slated for a fall 2024 release but has been delayed to early 2025. The absence of the Netflix Games logo from its website further confirms its departure from Netflix's lineup.
Compass Point: West, developed by Next Games (a studio owned by Netflix), was one of the first titles announced for the platform, making its cancellation particularly surprising.
Lastly, Thirsty Suitors, a stylish, story-driven RPG developed by Outerloop Games and published by Annapurna Interactive for Steam and consoles, was also set to come to mobile via Netflix but has now been excluded.
So, that's the latest on Netflix Games' decision to scrap these titles. In the meantime, you can explore other offerings from Netflix on the Google Play Store.
And while we're on the topic of Netflix, don't miss out on the news about Netflix Stories adding Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.
