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

Netflix has been making some significant moves recently, particularly with their gaming division. They've released an exciting lineup of upcoming shows and games for the year, but eagle-eyed fans noticed that some anticipated titles were missing from the list. Notably, Netflix Games has decided to drop Don't Starve Together from its mobile gaming lineup, and it's not the only game to be cut.

There Are Six Names Missing!

The streaming giant has pulled the plug on six previously announced games for its mobile platform. If you were eagerly awaiting to play Don't Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, or Thirsty Suitors via Netflix Games, unfortunately, those plans have been scrapped.

Netflix is refining its gaming portfolio, and these titles did not meet the criteria for inclusion. This isn't the first time they've made such a move; Crashlands 2 was another game that was removed from their lineup, despite beta testing in some regions.

This decision reflects a broader shift in Netflix's gaming strategy. They are increasingly focusing on narrative-driven games and titles based on their popular shows and movies, moving away from indie games. A prime example is Netflix Stories, which is set to include popular shows like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias this year.

So, What About the Games that Netflix Promised Like Don't Starve Together?

Fortunately, most of these games will still see the light of day, just not through Netflix. Don't Starve Together was poised to be the first mobile release for the co-op survival game, initially announced in June 2024 as part of a trio of Klei Entertainment games coming to Netflix. However, Playdigious has now taken over the mobile porting duties.

Similarly, Lab Rat and Rotwood, the other two Klei Entertainment titles, have also been dropped from Netflix's plans. However, Rotwood continues to thrive on Steam in early access.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a cozy life sim, was expected to launch in fall 2024 but has been delayed to early 2025. The disappearance of the Netflix Games logo from its website further confirms that it won't be part of Netflix's lineup.

Compass Point: West, developed by Next Games (a company owned by Netflix), was one of the first titles announced for the platform, making its cancellation all the more surprising.

Lastly, Thirsty Suitors, a stylish, story-driven RPG by Outerloop Games and published by Annapurna Interactive for Steam and consoles, was also set to come to mobile via Netflix but has now been removed from their plans.

So, that concludes our update on Netflix Games' decision to scrap these titles. In the meantime, you can explore other offerings from Netflix Games on the Google Play Store. And while we're on the topic of Netflix, don't forget to check out the latest news on Netflix Stories adding Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.