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

Netflix has been making some significant moves recently, particularly in their gaming sector. They've released their list of upcoming shows and games for the year, which included some exciting titles but also revealed that several anticipated games have been dropped from their mobile lineup. Among the games no longer coming to Netflix Games are Don’t Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, and Thirsty Suitors.

Six Games Missing from Netflix's Lineup

As part of their strategy to refine their gaming portfolio, Netflix has decided to cancel these six previously announced titles. Fans eagerly awaiting these games will need to look elsewhere for their gaming fix. This isn't the first time Netflix has removed games from its lineup; Crashlands 2 also faced a similar fate after beta testing in certain regions.

This move reflects a broader shift in Netflix's gaming strategy, with a focus on narrative-driven games and titles based on their popular shows and movies, moving away from indie games. A prime example of this shift is the addition of shows like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias to Netflix Stories later this year.

What Happens to Games Like Don’t Starve Together?

While these games won't be available through Netflix, most of them are still set to launch on other platforms. Don’t Starve Together, which was to be the first mobile version of the co-op survival game, was announced in June 2024 as part of a trio of Klei Entertainment games coming to Netflix. However, it will now be ported to mobile by Playdigious.

Lab Rat and Rotwood, the other two Klei Entertainment titles, have also been dropped by Netflix. Fortunately, Rotwood remains available in early access on Steam. Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a cozy life sim originally slated for a fall 2024 release, has been delayed to early 2025 and won't be part of Netflix's offerings.

Compass Point: West, developed by Next Games—a studio owned by Netflix—was one of the first titles announced for the platform, making its cancellation particularly surprising. Thirsty Suitors, a stylish, story-driven RPG developed by Outerloop Games and published by Annapurna Interactive, was also set to come to mobile via Netflix but has been removed from their plans.

The removal of the Netflix Games logo from the website further confirms that these games won't be part of Netflix's lineup. While these titles won't be available through Netflix, fans can still explore other games offered by Netflix on the Google Play Store.

For more on Netflix's gaming strategy, check out the news about Netflix Stories adding Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.