Netflix (NFLX.O) has closed down Boss Fight Entertainment, the Texas-based game studio behind “Squid Game: Unleashed”, marking a significant move in the company’s evolving gaming strategy. The closure, confirmed by co-founder David Rippy and game development director David Luehmann on LinkedIn, ends a two-year chapter since Netflix acquired the studio in 2022 to strengthen its push into gaming.
“Rough news, for sure, but I’m very grateful for the time we had at Netflix,” Rippy said in his post. Luehmann added that, after “10+ great years” at Boss Fight, the time had come for the studio to close down. Netflix did not immediately comment on the decision, but confirmed that Boss Fight’s existing titles — “Netflix Stories” and “Squid Game: Unleashed” — will remain available to players on its platform.
The shutdown comes as Netflix refines its gaming division under new leadership. Alain Tascan, named president of games last year, is leading a shift toward party, narrative, kids, and mainstream titles, aiming to create games more closely tied to the company’s original entertainment franchises.
Netflix’s co-CEO Greg Peters highlighted “Squid Game: Unleashed” earlier this week during an earnings call as an example of the type of story-driven games the company wants to develop moving forward. The move signals a consolidation of Netflix’s game development efforts, focusing on scalable and narrative-rich projects rather than maintaining multiple internal studios.
The decision underscores Netflix’s broader transformation as it looks beyond streaming video to build an ecosystem of interactive entertainment, though the company continues to face challenges in carving out a foothold in the competitive mobile gaming market.
