Netflix shuts down Boss Fight Entertainment, studio behind Squid Game: Unleashed

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Netflix has closed down Boss Fight Entertainment, the game studio behind Squid Game: Unleashed, which topped charts in 26 countries. The move comes as part of the company’s restructuring within its gaming division, according to multiple reports.

David Rippy, the studio’s co-founder and former CEO, confirmed the shutdown in a LinkedIn post, calling it “rough news” but expressing gratitude for the team’s time at Netflix. “We worked with some awesome people and made many games I’m proud of, including Squid Game: Unleashed, which hit number one in 26 countries,” Rippy wrote. He added that he, along with co-founders Bill Jackson and Scott Winsett, plans to “take a little breather” before exploring new opportunities.

Another team member, David Luehmann, who served as director of game development, echoed the sentiment in a separate post. “After 10+ great years at Boss Fight, the last few as part of Netflix, the time has come for the studio to close down,” he wrote, adding that he was proud of the team’s work and hinted that several in-progress projects had shown strong potential.

Netflix’s changing approach to gaming

Netflix acquired Boss Fight Entertainment in 2022 as part of its push into video games, a move intended to diversify its revenue beyond streaming. The Texas-based studio developed two games for the platform: Netflix Stories and Squid Game: Unleashed, the latter becoming one of Netflix’s biggest mobile gaming hits.

During its latest earnings call, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters praised Squid Game: Unleashed as a model for the company’s future gaming efforts — narrative-driven experiences tied to original Netflix properties. However, the company’s strategy is now shifting toward four key segments: party games, story-based titles, kids’ games, and mainstream experiences.

Industry observers see the closure of Boss Fight as part of a broader realignment aimed at focusing resources on these priority areas. Despite the studio’s shutdown, Squid Game: Unleashed and Netflix Stories will remain available to players through the Netflix app.