Days after shutting its AAA game studio filled with former God of War and Overwatch talent, Netflix announces a "new initiative" powered by AI
Nov. 5, 2024It was apparently “actually a planned transition”
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Just days after reportedlyclosing its AAA game studiowith industry-leading talent, Netflix is planning “truly novel game experiences” powered by generative AI.
The news comes in the form of a LinkedInpostfrom Mike Verdu, the founder and previous vice president of Netflix Games and now the new VP of “GenAI for Games” at Netflix. “At long last, I am ready to talk about what I’m doing next: I am working on driving a ‘once in a generation’ inflection point for game development and player experiences using generative AI,” reads Verdu’s big reveal.
This “transformational technology,” as he says, will “accelerate the velocity of development and unlock truly novel game experiences that will surprise, delight, and inspire players.” It’s admittedly a bit alarming considering the company’s recent studio closure and loss of talent like Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny and God of War Ragnarok art director Rafael Grassetti - but according to Verdu, it’ll run on a “creator-first” system.
“I am focused on a creator-first vision for AI,” he writes, “one that puts creative talent at the center, with AI being a catalyst and an accelerant. AI will enable big game teams to move much faster, and will also put an almost unimaginable collection of new capabilities in the hands of developers in smaller game teams.” Verdu also assures readers that the AI division at Netflix has been “planned” for some time now.
“Pay no mind to the uninformed speculation in the media about the changes in Netflix Games,” states the VP. “What you’ve seen over the last several months was actually a planned transition.” While I can’t say I feel better about the entire situation personally, I do wonder what direction “GenAI for Games” at Netflix will take - and how Verdu plans to make his so-called “dent in the universe” with AI as the division’s lead.
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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she’s not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she’s probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she’s spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you’ll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.
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