Streaming giant Netflix is selling developer Spry Fox back to the company’s founders.
That’s according to Game File, which reports that co-founders David Edery and Daniel Cook once again own the studio. Spry Fox is going to continue working on the previously announced MMO Spirit Crossing, which will be published by Netflix on mobile. The studio has the option to find publishers for the game on other platforms.
This newfound freedom does come with some costs, though. Either Spry Fox needs to secure funding to make sure it is sustainable in the long term, or Spirit Crossing has to be a commercial success. The game also requires a rework to allow for monetisation as Netflix titles are included in the platform’s subscription, meaning that was not an initial consideration when the project was first designed.
“We’re so grateful for our time at Netflix and our continued partnership publishing Spirit Crossing next year,” Edery said.
“Spirit Crossing was built to connect the world, bring people together and inspire kindness, so being able to bring the game to as many players, across different platforms, is truly the best thing for the game.”
Netflix acquired Spry Fox in November 2022. This was back when the streaming giant was making a big move into the games space; the Cozy Grove and Alphabear developer was the firm’s fourth acquisition in 14 months and its sixth internal studio.
Since then, Netflix has changed its approach. In June 2024, the company’s VP of games, Mike Verdu, was moved to a new role at the company – VP of generative AI – before leaving in March of this year. He was replaced by at the helm of Netflix’s games business by Epic veteran Alain Tascan.
Netflix closed down its California-based AAA studio, Team Blue, in 2024, while job cuts were made at Night School Studio, which the company acquired in 2021.
At the start of 2025, Netflix said that six previously announced titles – including three from Klei Entertainment – were not going to be coming to its platform. The firm said that this was part of a decision to “adjust [its] portfolio” to reflect “what our members like”.
In September 2024, Netflix said its games had been downloaded over 210 million times.
