Netflix closes its gaming studio in California

Team Blue, Netflix's high-profile gaming division in Southern California, has been shut down.

According to Game File, this was Netflix's fifth studio, and the shutdown resulted in the departure of three key figures: studio head Chacko Sonny, creative director Joseph Staten, and art director Rafael Grassetti.

Sonny joined Netflix in October 2022, leading the newly formed studio. Staten started in April 2023 to develop a major new project, while Grassetti came on board in May 2023 to contribute to the same endeavor.

Game File highlighted that the studio was aiming for a comprehensive multi-platform game strategy.

In other developments, Alain Tascan, Netflix Games president, recently hired Jeet Shroff, previously a vice president at Epic Games, as per Business Insider. Shroff has assumed the role of vice president of games tech and portfolio development.

This reorganization has reportedly led to 35 job cuts.

GamesIndustry.biz is awaiting additional comments from Netflix.