Netflix shuts down its AAA studio led by Halo veteran Joseph Staten

by Danny Craig  · 
Netflix shuts down its AAA studio led by Halo veteran Joseph Staten
Netflix

It has been confirmed that Netflix has shut down "Team Blue," its internal studio led by former Halo creative lead Joseph Staten, which was set to create Netflix's first AAA game.

The details:

  • Netflix confirmed to Game File that the California-based developer closed earlier this month. The company also disclosed that Staten, former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny, and God of War art director Raf Grassetti have left Netflix.

  • It's unclear where those affected will end up next, but reporter Rebs Gaming discovered that the recently rebranded Halo Studios has recently closed its job posting for a creative director, implying that Staten may have returned to the developer.

  • Blue was established in October 2022 as part of Netflix's ongoing expansion into the gaming space. Its debut title was said to be a AAA multi-platform release featuring an original IP, but no further details were shared.

  • Netflix announced last year that it had 80 games in development, with many of its studios still operational, including an in-house studio in Helsinki, as well as the US-based Night School Studio and Spry Fox, which created Oxenfree and Cozy Grove, respectively. The majority of these titles are smaller projects that are more in line with Netflix's current game catalog.

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