Netflix’s gaming VP Mike Verdu has left after being employed in 2021 to launch the platform’s gaming initiatives. That is the newest shakeup for the streaming big the streaming big, which has undergone mass layoffs to its gaming division just lately.
In response to Game File, a Netflix consultant confirmed that Verdu did go away the corporate. He was introduced on to launch new and ported cell video games to the Netflix platform for paying subscribers, and in addition lead inner recreation improvement.
Verdu went by means of a number of title adjustments throughout his time at Netflix. He began because the VP of recreation improvement, serving to construct the muse of Netflix Video games, together with studios and publishing arms. He then acquired promoted to the VP of video games, and rolled out cloud streaming checks to TVs and PCs in a number of international locations.
His final position earlier than leaving Netflix was VP of Gen AI in video games. He transitioned to this position in November 2024, and whereas the transfer to AI might have been seen as a market pivot for Netflix, Verdu stated in a LinkedIn update, “What you have seen over the past a number of months was truly a deliberate transition.”
In July 2024, Netflix additionally employed Epic Video games govt Alain Tascan to become its president of gaming.
Underneath Tascan, Netflix has just lately lower off a few of its gaming plans. It closed its in-house AAA improvement workforce, known as Workforce Blue, in addition to eliminated nearly all of its interactive video titles. It additionally laid off several employees at Oxenfree developer Night School Studios after buying them in 2021 and walked again on releasing six video games on the platform, together with Thirsty Suitors and Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings recreation.