Netflix is closing two game studios

The Verge News

Summary

Netflix is shutting down two game studios, Night School Studio and Moonloot Games, as it pivots toward TV-based party games and other priorities, with additional role cuts in its games business.

<figure> <img alt="Screenshot from Oxenfree II: Lost Signals featuring a zoomed out shot of three characters on a bridge on a gloomy night." data-caption="A screenshot of Oxenfree II: Lost Signals from Night School Studio. | Image: Night School / Netflix" data-portal-copyright="Image: Night School / Netflix" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24814434/OXENFREEII_rileyjacobbridge_EN.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> A screenshot of Oxenfree II: Lost Signals from Night School Studio. | Image: Night School / Netflix </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Netflix plans to shut down two of its gaming studios, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.gamefile.news/p/netflix-closes-night-school-moonloot">Game File</a></em> and <em><a href="https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/netflix-closes-unhinged-video-game-studio-night-school-1236834103/">Variety</a></em>, as it makes a bigger shift toward party games and titles streamed to TVs.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the studios being shut down is Night School Studio, creators of the <em>Oxenfree</em> series. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22699241/netflix-night-school-acquisition-oxenfree">Netflix bought Night School in 2021</a>, and it <a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/953933/unhinged-netflix-horror-tv-game">just released</a> a horror experience called <em>Unhinged</em> for TVs and launched a mobile game in 2025 <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/645952/black-mirror-game-thronglets-season-7-netflix">tied to <em>Black Mirror</em></a>. The other studio that's set to close is Helsinki-based Moonloot Games, which was created in 2022.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Netflix's big push into TV-based games <a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/820289/netflix-casual-party-game-multiplayer-tetris-pictionary">kicked off late last year</a> and was a pivot from a mobile-focused approach that featured presti …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/979855/netflix-shut-down-night-school-studio-moonloot-games">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# Netflix is closing two game studios Source: [https://www.theverge.com/games/979855/netflix-shut-down-night-school-studio-moonloot-games](https://www.theverge.com/games/979855/netflix-shut-down-night-school-studio-moonloot-games) [Skip to main content](https://www.theverge.com/games/979855/netflix-shut-down-night-school-studio-moonloot-games#content) Night School Studio and Moonloot Games are being shut down as Netflix focuses more on TV\-based party games\. Night School Studio and Moonloot Games are being shut down as Netflix focuses more on TV\-based party games\. by Aug 13, 2026, 8:52 PM UTC ![Screenshot from Oxenfree II: Lost Signals featuring a zoomed out shot of three characters on a bridge on a gloomy night.](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24814434/OXENFREEII_rileyjacobbridge_EN.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&w=2400) ![Screenshot from Oxenfree II: Lost Signals featuring a zoomed out shot of three characters on a bridge on a gloomy night.](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24814434/OXENFREEII_rileyjacobbridge_EN.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=7.8125%2C0%2C84.375%2C100&w=2400) [![Jay Peters](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/JAY_BLURPLE.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=96)](https://www.theverge.com/authors/jay-peters) Jay Peters is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more\. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme\. Netflix plans to shut down two of its gaming studios, as reported by*[Game File](https://www.gamefile.news/p/netflix-closes-night-school-moonloot)*and*[Variety](https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/netflix-closes-unhinged-video-game-studio-night-school-1236834103/)*, as it makes a bigger shift toward party games and titles streamed to TVs\. One of the studios being shut down is Night School Studio, creators of the*Oxenfree*series\.[Netflix bought Night School in 2021](https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22699241/netflix-night-school-acquisition-oxenfree), and it[just released](https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/953933/unhinged-netflix-horror-tv-game)a horror experience called*Unhinged*for TVs and launched a mobile game in 2025[tied to*Black Mirror*](https://www.theverge.com/news/645952/black-mirror-game-thronglets-season-7-netflix)\. The other studio that’s set to close is Helsinki\-based Moonloot Games, which was created in 2022\. Netflix’s big push into TV\-based games[kicked off late last year](https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/820289/netflix-casual-party-game-multiplayer-tetris-pictionary)and was a pivot from a mobile\-focused approach that featured prestige indie titles\. But Netflix has let many of those indie hits[leave its mobile lineup](https://www.theverge.com/news/692227/netflix-games-delisting-hades-braid-gaming-strategy)as it focuses instead on[four pillars](https://www.theverge.com/games/633481/netflix-gaming-strategy-alain-tascan-interview)of kids, party, narrative, and “mainstream” games\. “As we continue to prioritize these areas, we see an opportunity to be more focused in our execution, so we are making organizational changes to the business to match those priorities,” Netflix spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher tells*The Verge*\. Netflix is also eliminating “some” additional roles in its games business, according to Kelleher\. The cuts include Tara Voelker,[who says](https://bsky.app/profile/tarav.bsky.social/post/3msygboljvs2j)she was the “single accessibility person” on the gaming team\. Last year, Netflix shut down the studio behind[a*Squid Game*mobile title](https://www.theverge.com/news/806303/netflix-squid-game-unleashed-boss-fight-entertainment-studio-shut-down)and[sold*Cozy Grove*studio](https://www.theverge.com/news/837632/another-change-for-netflixs-games)Spry Fox back to its original owners\. In 2024, Netflix closed down[a AAA studio that never released a game](https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/22/24276700/netflix-gaming-studio-closure-blue)\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Jay Peters ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.

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