As Netflix celebrates one year since it got into gaming, the streaming service has announced acquiring developer Spry Fox. They are the brains behind indie hits such as Cozy Grove. Netflix, mainly known for being the platform to binge-watch the latest popular series, has not been in the gaming scene for long but hopes to change that by adding new developers to its roster to aid in creating more original games. The popular streaming service isn't synonymous at the moment when it comes to cloud-based gaming.
The merger between the two seems to be a perfect fit. Last November, Netflix launched Netflix Games, collaborating with other studios to create mobile gaming titles. Those current studios are Bonus XP, Frosty Pop, and Amuzo & Rogue Games. At the start, five games were available, including Stranger Things:1984, Stranger Things 3:The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. Last month Netflix started its in-house development studio and aims to become more recognizable in the gaming industry.
The latest studio acquisition news by Netflix came in a blog post ahead of their first anniversary. Spry Fox is set to join Netflix as the sixth in-house game studio. It's an indie development studio based out of Seattle, WA, with a few hit titles under its belt, including Cozy Grove, Alphabear, Triple Town, and Road Not Taken. Spry Fox's studio co-founder Daniel Cook shared his excitement about the Netflix deal stating it's a chance to build some "amazing games together." Also, according to Cook, when he and fellow co-founder David founded the studio 12 years ago, their goal was to have an environment that fostered creativity and positive vibes and ultimately make games that left players happy. During the most recent Tudum Event, Netflix shared that more games are on the way.
For fans of titles like Cozy Grove, Spry Fox wanted to clarify that this new merger does not mean gamers lose access to its current roster of games; there are other titles similar to Cozy Grove that players should check out. It was also announced that development on Cozy Grove 2 is still going ahead as planned and development on a non-violent untitled MMO project. The indie studio also revealed it has partnered with Epic Games for another title described as being called quite "ambitious."
Besides acquiring Spry Fox, Netflix said earlier this month that its other game studio would be led by Overwatch's former Executive Producer Chacko Sonny. Hopefully, whichever games Sonny and that studio put out on behalf of Netflix it does better than Overwatch 2's unfortunate reception from fans. What remains to be seen is whether Netflix can compete with all the other famous gaming studios out there.
Source: VGC