Netflix Cancels Six Indie Games, Including Don’t Starve Together

Netflix has recently made significant adjustments to its gaming lineup, stirring both excitement and disappointment among its audience. The streaming giant unveiled its eagerly awaited list of upcoming shows and games for the year, but keen observers noticed the absence of several previously announced titles. Notably, Netflix Games has decided to remove six games from its mobile platform, including the much-anticipated Don’t Starve Together.

Six Games Missing from the Lineup

If you were eagerly awaiting the chance to play Don’t Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, or Thirsty Suitors on Netflix Games, you're in for a disappointment. These titles have been dropped from Netflix's gaming portfolio as part of a strategic shift to refine their offerings. This isn't the first time Netflix has made such a move; Crashlands 2, another anticipated game, was also removed despite having begun beta testing in select regions.

Netflix's New Gaming Strategy

Netflix is steering its gaming strategy towards narrative-driven experiences and games tied to its popular TV shows and movies. This shift explains the cancellation of several indie titles. A prime example is Netflix Stories, which will soon feature popular series such as Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias, integrating the streaming giant's content more closely with its gaming offerings.

What Happens to the Promised Games?

Despite their removal from Netflix, most of these games are still set to launch on other platforms. Don’t Starve Together, originally slated for a mobile release via Netflix in June 2024 as part of a trio from Klei Entertainment, will now be available on mobile through Playdigious. The other two Klei titles, Lab Rat and Rotwood, have also been dropped by Netflix, but Rotwood remains available in early access on Steam.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a cozy life simulation game, faced a delay from its planned fall 2024 release to early 2025. The absence of the Netflix Games logo from its website confirms its departure from the Netflix lineup.

Compass Point: West, developed by Next Games—a studio owned by Netflix—was among the first titles announced for the platform, making its cancellation particularly surprising. Thirsty Suitors, a stylish, story-driven RPG from Outerloop Games and Annapurna Interactive, was also set to come to mobile via Netflix but will no longer be part of their offerings.

Where to Find More from Netflix Games

While these games have been removed, Netflix continues to expand its gaming catalog. You can explore their current offerings on the Google Play Store. For those interested in Netflix's broader content strategy, keep an eye out for updates on Netflix Stories, which will soon feature beloved shows like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias.

This strategic pivot reflects Netflix's ongoing efforts to align its gaming portfolio more closely with its core strengths in storytelling and content creation, even if it means disappointing some fans of the dropped titles.