In a move that has shocked the gaming industry, video streaming monolith Netflix has made its first foray into the core gaming space by acquiring California-based developer Night School Studio.
The team behind critically acclaimed adventure games Oxenfree and Afterparty, has since confirmed that the acquisition has very little bearing on their plans for upcoming projects.
“Night School wants to stretch our narrative and design aspirations across distinctive, original games with heart. Netflix gives film, TV, and now game makers an unprecedented canvas to create and deliver excellent entertainment to millions of people. Our explorations in narrative gameplay and Netflix’s track record of supporting diverse storytellers was such a natural pairing. It felt like both teams came to this conclusion instinctively.” -Sean Krankel, Night School Studio
Of course, it remains to be seen how this purchase will affect the output of Night School, but in the meantime, it seems as though both parties see great potential in their new partnership, with this just being the first step in Netflix’s big plans to take on gaming.
“We’ll continue working with developers around the world and hiring the best talent in the industry to deliver a great collection of exclusive games designed for every kind of gamer and any level of play” Mike Verdu, VP of Game Development at Netflix, said as part of the announcement. “Like our shows and films, these games will all be included as part of your Netflix membership — all with no ads and no in-app purchases”
What do you think of Netflix acquiring Night School Studio? Let us know, and keep your eyes peeled for more Netflix acquisitions because something tells me this is just the beginning.
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