Netflix Lays Off Staff at Night School Studio

Streaming giant Netflix has made the difficult decision to lay off staff at Night School Studio, the developer behind the popular game Oxenfree.

Shock at Night School Studio

According to Game Developer, an unspecified number of workers at Night School Studio were informed last month that their services were no longer required. This news came as a shock to the indie games company, which has been known for its innovative and unique games.

Netflix, the parent company of Night School Studio, has declined to comment on the report, leaving many in the industry wondering about the future of the studio and its projects.

Night School Studio’s History

Best known for its Oxenfree games, Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 as part of the streaming giant’s strategy to venture into interactive entertainment.

The studio gained recognition with its first game, Oxenfree, which was released in 2016. The game, a side-scrolling narrative adventure, followed a group of teens entangled in eerie sci-fi mysteries and was praised for its engaging dialogue and atmosphere.

Following the success of Oxenfree, Night School Studio released Afterparty in 2019, a game about a character trying to outdrink Satan. While not as well-received as Oxenfree, the studio made a comeback in 2023 with Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, a direct sequel that garnered positive reviews.

Future Plans for Night School Studio

It remains uncertain what Night School Studio is currently working on. However, reports indicate that the recent layoffs will not impact the company’s product pipeline, suggesting that there are still exciting projects in the works.

In a surprising move, Netflix shut down a major internal game studio in October 2024, led by Halo creative head Joseph Staten. The decision to cancel a high-budget game before its announcement raised questions about Netflix’s gaming ventures.

Despite these challenges, Netflix experienced a significant increase in quarterly subscribers, leading to another price hike for UK customers earlier this month.

FAQs

Q: What led to the layoffs at Night School Studio?

A: The layoffs at Night School Studio were part of a restructuring effort by Netflix, the studio’s parent company.

Q: Will the layoffs affect Night School Studio’s future projects?

A: According to reports, the layoffs will not impact the studio’s product pipeline, indicating that projects are still in development.

Credit: www.eurogamer.net