Netflix has shut down its California-based “AAA” game studio, known as Team Blue, less than two years after opening it. The studio was working on a big-budget, multi-platform game with high-profile industry veterans like Joseph Staten, a key figure behind the “Halo” series, Chacko Sonny from “Overwatch,” and Rafael Grassetti from Sony Santa Monica.
This closure comes as a surprise, particularly since Staten made headlines earlier this year when he joined Netflix as the creative director for a new game project.
The reason for the studio’s closure remains unclear, but it seems to be part of a broader shake-up as Netflix’s new gaming leadership settles in.
The status of the game Staten and his team were developing is uncertain—it’s unknown if the project will be canceled or moved to another studio