In a surprising move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, Netflix has officially shut down Boss Fight Entertainment, the studio behind Squid Game: Unleashed and Netflix Stories. The closure marks the second major Netflix Games studio shutdown in less than a year, raising questions about the streaming giant’s long-term gaming strategy.
Netflix Confirms Closure of Boss Fight Entertainment
Boss Fight Entertainment, which was acquired by Netflix in March 2022, has officially ceased operations. The studio played a vital role in expanding Netflix’s gaming division, developing titles that integrated some of the platform’s biggest entertainment IPs. However, following widespread layoffs across Netflix’s gaming sector, the studio’s closure was confirmed earlier this week.
Studio director David Rippy announced the news through a heartfelt LinkedIn post, thanking his team and colleagues for their dedication and creativity. Rippy stated:
“Well, word has gotten around quickly about Boss Fight’s closure. It’s rough news, but I’m deeply proud of everything we accomplished at Netflix. We worked on games like Squid Game: Unleashed, which hit #1 in 26 countries. I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”
This message echoed across LinkedIn, with many former team members sharing similar sentiments and seeking new opportunities within the gaming industry.
From Dungeon Boss to Squid Game: Unleashed — A Journey Cut Short
Before joining Netflix, Boss Fight Entertainment gained recognition for its mobile hit Dungeon Boss. After being acquired by Netflix, the studio reworked the game into Dungeon Boss: Respawned, removing microtransactions to comply with Netflix’s ad-free and paywall-free gaming model. The revamped version was later added to the Netflix Games library.
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The studio’s primary focus, however, became the Netflix Stories series — interactive narrative games that allowed players to immerse themselves in Netflix’s most popular shows such as Love is Blind, Virgin River, The Perfect Couple, Sex Education, Sweet Magnolias, and Emily in Paris. Players could shape their own storylines, make choices, and interact with their favorite characters in unique ways.
Unfortunately, despite fan enthusiasm, Netflix Stories was discontinued in early 2025, with all future entries canceled. The cancellation hinted at a shifting focus within Netflix Games, paving the way for larger, standalone projects like Squid Game: Unleashed.
Squid Game: Unleashed Became Netflix’s Biggest Gaming Success
Among Boss Fight Entertainment’s projects, Squid Game: Unleashed emerged as the studio’s most successful release. Based on Netflix’s globally acclaimed Korean series Squid Game, the mobile game launched alongside Season 2 of the show and quickly dominated charts worldwide.
Within weeks of release, Squid Game: Unleashed crossed 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store, receiving praise for its gameplay mechanics, visuals, and faithful adaptation of the TV series. The game also gained attention for removing Netflix’s subscription requirement, allowing non-members to play for free — a first for Netflix Games.
Throughout 2025, Boss Fight continued to roll out regular content updates, including a major expansion coinciding with the release of Squid Game Season 3. These updates kept the community engaged and helped the title maintain a strong player base.
However, with the studio now closed, the future of Squid Game: Unleashed remains uncertain. While Netflix has not officially announced whether the game will continue receiving updates or support, many fans fear that this closure could mark the end of one of Netflix’s most popular mobile titles.
Netflix’s Gaming Division Faces Major Changes
The shutdown of Boss Fight Entertainment is part of a larger restructuring effort within Netflix Games. Over the past year, Netflix has terminated more than a dozen game licenses, removed several titles from its library, and even closed another in-house studio earlier this year.
According to David Luehmann, Netflix’s Director of Game Development, the decision was not easy. In his statement, he wrote:
“After more than a decade working with Boss Fight, including the last few years under Netflix, the time has come for the studio to close. I’m proud of all the work and games we created. I wish people could have seen what we had in development.”
His comments suggest that several unannounced Netflix games were in progress before the closure, many of which may now be canceled.
The Future of Netflix Games: A Shift Toward Interactive TV Experiences
As Netflix redefines its gaming vision, the company appears to be pivoting toward interactive TV-based gaming experiences rather than traditional mobile titles. Reports indicate that Netflix’s upcoming focus will center around party games that integrate directly with its streaming service — allowing players to use their phones as controllers while participating in group games on TV.
This transition aligns with Netflix’s broader entertainment strategy: merging gaming and streaming into a seamless, interactive ecosystem. The company recently teased new projects that blend TV shows and games, signaling a new direction for its gaming division.
Impact on the Industry and Former Employees
The closure of Boss Fight Entertainment marks a significant loss for both Netflix and the wider gaming community. The studio was known for its story-driven approach and for pushing boundaries in mobile game design. With talented developers now seeking new roles, several major studios have already begun reaching out to hire former Boss Fight employees.
While it’s a setback for Netflix Games, the closure also highlights the challenges of sustaining large-scale game development within a streaming-focused business model. As Netflix continues to refine its gaming ambitions, it remains to be seen how the company will balance content creation, interactive storytelling, and long-term profitability.
Final Thoughts
The closure of Boss Fight Entertainment marks a turning point for Netflix’s gaming division. With successful titles like Squid Game: Unleashed under its belt, the studio proved that Netflix could compete in the mobile gaming market. However, shifting priorities, internal restructuring, and changing strategies have now left fans questioning what’s next for Netflix Games.
As Netflix pivots toward interactive TV gaming, only time will tell whether this new direction can deliver the same excitement that Boss Fight Entertainment once brought to millions of players worldwide.
