Netflix has been making significant adjustments to its gaming offerings, and their recent announcement of upcoming shows and games for the year has left fans both excited and disappointed. While the list boasts some eagerly awaited titles, it's notable for the absence of several previously announced games.
Six Games Removed from Netflix's Mobile Lineup
Netflix Games has decided to remove six titles from its mobile gaming portfolio: Don’t Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, and Thirsty Suitors. These cancellations reflect Netflix's ongoing efforts to refine its gaming strategy, focusing on titles that align more closely with their vision.
This isn't the first time Netflix has made such a move; Crashlands 2 was also dropped from their lineup even after beta testing had begun in some regions. The shift indicates a pivot towards narrative-driven games and titles inspired by their popular shows and movies, rather than indie games. For example, Netflix Stories is set to include popular series like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias this year.
What About the Promised Games?
For those eagerly awaiting Don’t Starve Together, the co-op survival game was meant to be a mobile-first experience. Announced in June 2024 as part of a trio from Klei Entertainment, it will now be released on mobile by Playdigious.
Lab Rat and Rotwood, the other two titles from Klei, have also been removed from Netflix's plans. However, Rotwood is still available in early access on Steam.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a cozy life sim, was initially slated for a fall 2024 release but has been delayed to early 2025. Its absence from Netflix's lineup is further confirmed by the removal of the Netflix Games logo from its website.
Compass Point: West, developed by Next Games (a company owned by Netflix), was one of the earliest announced titles for the platform, making its cancellation particularly surprising.
Thirsty Suitors, a stylish, story-driven RPG developed by Outerloop Games and published by Annapurna Interactive, was meant to be available on mobile through Netflix but will now be exclusive to Steam and consoles.
Where to Go from Here?
While these cancellations may be disappointing, many of these games are still set to launch on other platforms. Fans can explore Netflix's current gaming offerings on the Google Play Store, and stay tuned for updates on Netflix Stories featuring Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.
