It's been a while since we last discussed the exciting news that Don't Starve Together was set to make its way to Netflix Games back in June 2024. Unfortunately, we have some disappointing news to share: Don't Starve Together will no longer be coming to Netflix. However, there's a silver lining—Klei Entertainment and Playdigious are still diligently working to bring this beloved survival game to mobile platforms, including both iOS and Android devices.
For fans of the eerie, Tim Burton-esque aesthetics of the Don't Starve series, this is fantastic news. The game challenges you to survive on an island teeming with hostile creatures, using a cast of quirky characters to gather resources and, above all, avoid starvation. Originally planned as an exclusive for Netflix Games, Don't Starve Together will now be available globally through the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store. Although a specific release date hasn't been announced, both Klei Entertainment and Playdigious have assured fans that an update on the launch is forthcoming.
No Netflix for you—it appears that Don't Starve Together's exclusive deal with Netflix has fallen through. While it's reassuring to know that the game will still see a global release on mobile, one can't help but ponder what this development means for Netflix Games' future commitment to indie titles. Don't Starve is a significant franchise in the indie survival genre, and its departure from Netflix raises questions about the platform's dedication to smaller developers. This shift, coupled with the removal of other indie exclusives like Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, suggests a potential pivot away from indie games on the service.
Netflix's indie game catalog has been a major draw for subscribers like myself, and the loss of such a prominent title as Don't Starve Together is a setback. For further insight into my thoughts on this matter, I invite you to explore my previous article on the launch of Squid Game: Unleashed, where I discuss how Netflix's increasing focus on its own properties might negatively impact the indie gaming community on the platform.
