Picture: Netflix
One of Netflix’s most popular games, which has been receiving frequent updates over the past few years, is coming to an end. Netflix Stories has stopped work on additional story games in the future.
The report comes from Variety, the first to confirm the end of the interactive games. They note that the move is part of a more significant strategy shift (one covered at length) and is part of a reorganisation that will result in layoffs. They add that the strategy will see them “stick to mobile titles across party games, narrative games, kids games and mainstream games, as well as more games that can be played on TV.”
Boss Fight Entertainment is the team behind the game, which also recently released the Squid Game tie-in Unleashed. That game is cited as a success for the streamer, and regular updates are planned throughout 2025, including one for the arrival of season 3 this June.
The news comes a few days after the Netflix Stories app began teasing its next game, The Love Contract, which will be released on April 8th. It’s not centered on any particular IP but rather a new romance story created in-house. It’s the first Netflix Story to carry the “spice” label. Here’s the official synopsis for that entry:
“After years of working as an actress, you’ve finally landed your first leading role! A night out celebrating leads to a meet cute with one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, and when it turns into a steamy night of passion, it seems like you might be living in your very own rom-com. But when a billionaire who is as well known for their skills in the bedroom as the boardroom asks you to be their fake, but exclusive, girlfriend to help clean up their image, it might be just the publicity boost you’re looking for. Hollywood loves a scandal… What will your headline be?”
Netflix Stories Screencapture
The closing of this game is a bit of a head scratcher. Netflix Stories, despite having plenty of criticism laid at its door, is one of the most-played games on Netflix. As of the time of publishing, the game is the fourth most popular game on the Netflix Games top 10 carousel, which is based on playtime rather than downloads. The game also performs well with downloads, with our recent report looking into Netflix’s most downloaded games suggesting it still receives over 300,000 monthly downloads.
Netflix Stories isn’t expected to be removed from the games library, but rather, planned upcoming titles like a sequel to Outer Banks and Ginny & Georgia are being scrapped. All prior titles on Netflix Stories, including Love Is Blind, Virgin River, Money Heist (released as a separate app), Perfect Match, Emily in Paris, Selling Sunset, Outer Banks, The Perfect Couple , Love is Blind: Winter’s Kiss, Sex Education, and Sweet Magnolias, will stay.
Of course, this is just the latest bit of bad news for Netflix Games, which is still finding its footing. In December, the streamer removed a dozen games from its lineup (with Shatter: Remastered next to leave) and canceled the release of half a dozen games previously confirmed for the platform.
Are you disappointed that Netflix Stories is coming to an end?
Rating: TV-14
