Netflix recently made significant changes to its gaming lineup, removing six previously announced mobile games: Don't Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, and Thirsty Suitors. This isn't the first time Netflix has cancelled games after initial announcements; Crashlands 2 suffered a similar fate.
This shift reflects a broader change in Netflix's gaming strategy. The company appears to be prioritizing narrative-driven games and titles based on its popular shows and movies over independent titles. This is evident in the upcoming additions to Netflix Stories, including titles based on Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias.
While disappointing for those anticipating these cancelled games, most will still release elsewhere. Don't Starve Together, initially slated for a Netflix mobile release, is now launching on mobile via Playdigious. Rotwood remains in early access on Steam. Tales of the Shire has been delayed until early 2025. The removal of Compass Point: West, a Next Games title (a Netflix subsidiary), is particularly noteworthy. Finally, Thirsty Suitors will launch on Steam and consoles, but not via Netflix.
This overview summarizes Netflix's recent game cancellations. For a look at Netflix's remaining mobile game offerings, visit the Google Play Store. For further Netflix news, see the article on Netflix Stories' upcoming additions.
