Netflix Acquires Night School Studio That Created Oxenfree, Rolls Out New Mobile Games

Netflix has begun offering free games to its subscribers at no extra cost in select European markets.

By Reuters | Updated: 29 September 2021 10:40 IST

Netflix Acquires Night School Studio That Created Oxenfree, Rolls Out New Mobile Games

Photo Credit: Night School Studio

Night School Studio said that it’s a surreal honor to be the first games studio to join Netflix

Highlights

Night School Studio's games are available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Netflix had mentioned its plans to enter gaming earlier this year
Stranger Things titles are already available in Poland

Netflix has bought video game creator Night School Studio and rolled out five mobile gaming titles in select European markets, the company said on Tuesday, as it looks to diversify revenue sources amid intensifying competition in the streaming space.

Night School Studio, the company's first gaming studio purchase, is best known for its debut game, Oxenfree, a supernatural teen thriller with an eerie soundtrack.

“Netflix gives film, TV, and now game makers an unprecedented canvas to create and deliver excellent entertainment to millions of people,” Night School Studio said in a statement. “Our explorations in narrative gameplay and Netflix's track record of supporting diverse storytellers was such a natural pairing.”

Netflix Is Getting Into Gaming — for Real

The studio's games, which are available on Sony's PlayStation, Microsoft's Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PCs, will be the first non-mobile titles in the streaming giant's newly created video game portfolio.

"Like our shows and films, these games will all be included as part of your Netflix membership — all with no advertisements and no in-app purchases," Netflix said while announcing the aquisition.

Netflix had mentioned its plans to enter gaming during its last quarterly earnings, as newer players including Disney+ and HBO Max have been rapidly gaining subscribers, intensifying competition in the streaming landscape.

Netflix Enters Mobile Gaming With Two Stranger Things Games on Android

The company earlier in the day said it had introduced Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Card Blast, Teeter Up, and Shooting Hoops titles on Android to Netflix members in Spain and Italy.

Poland, where the Stranger Things titles are already available, will get the other three titles.

"We view gaming as another new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, animation and unscripted TV," the company said in its shareholder letter.

Netflix Attempts to Spark Growth With a Free Mobile Plan in Kenya

"We think the time is right to learn more about how our members value games."

What were the best games at E3 2021? We discussed this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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