It looks like Netflix is taking another huge step backward from its involvement in video games. Itâs been announced that a whopping 20 games are being removed from the service, including big names like Hades, and even Netflix exclusives like Monument Valley 3
Itâs fair to say we didnât view Netflixâs move into gaming with long-term optimism. The video streaming serviceâs intention to stream games, too, was announced in the rubble of Googleâs abysmal attempt, Stadia, while the majority of its offeringsâthough often excellentâwere for a long time confined to mobile devices. Clearly the company had big intentions, at one point setting up a AAA studio, Team Blue, with names like Chacko Sonny, formerly of Blizzard; Joseph Staten, known for his work on Halo; and God of War art director Rafael Grassetti. However, that didnât survive for long, with the studio closing late last year having not released anything, not even a potential gameâs name.
It was only this time last year that Netflix declared it was developing an enormous 80 new games to be added to the 96 already hosted by the service. And itâs important to note that there are some all-time classics among whatâs already there. GTA San Andreas, Oxenfree, Dead Cells, Kentucky Route Zero⊠These are games people want to play.
However, itâs now known that their numbers are in fact going to drop by 20, with names like Hades, Braid, Monument Valley and The Case of the Golden Idol to be lost throughout July. Even more notably, some of the games listed as leaving were until now exclusive to the service, such as Rainbow Six: SMOL and Monument Valley 3. Itâs unclear at this point what will happen to these games, and whether they will be made available to play anywhere else.
This move follows not only the closure of Team Blue last November, but also the move that same month to delist 20 of Netflixâs interactive television programs. Four remained, however, including popular experiments like Black Mirrorâs episode âBandersnatch,â and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, but even these are now gone as of May 2025. (For some reason Bear Gryllsâ You vs. Wild remains available.)
While thereâs been no official announcement, it does seem somewhat unlikely that Netflixâs previously announced plans to release a new internally developed game every month will be met. These, however, are mostly intended to be tie-ins with new shows and movies, so perhaps the company will push ahead with them as promotional material.
It does seem safe to say that Netflixâs ambitions to break into original gaming, however, look to be pretty much over. Hereâs the full list of games departing the service next month, most of which are gone by July 14:
Battleship
Braid, Anniversary Edition
Carmen Sandiego
CoComelon: Play with JJ
Deathâs Door
Diner Out: Merge Cafe
Dumb Ways to Die
FashionVerse
Ghost Detective
Hades
Katana ZERO
LEGO Legacy: Heroes Unboxed
Ludo King
Monument Valley
Monument Valley 2
Monument Valley 3
Rainbow Six: SMOL
Raji: An Ancient Epic
SpongeBob: Bubble Pop F.U.N.
TED Tumblewords
The Case of the Golden Idol
The Rise of the Golden Idol
Vineyard Valley