Don\'t Starve Together is still coming to mobile, but not to Netflix

Don't Starve Together, initially announced for Netflix Games in June 2024, will not be coming to the streaming service. However, the good news is that the mobile version for iOS and Android is still on track. Playdigious and Klei Entertainment are collaborating to bring this popular survival game to a global audience via Google Play and the iOS App Store. While a firm release date is yet to be announced, an update is promised soon.

The darkly humorous, Tim Burton-esque world of Don't Starve challenges players to survive on a hostile island, gathering resources and avoiding starvation as one of several quirky characters. Originally planned as a Netflix Games exclusive, Don't Starve Together will now have a wider release on mobile platforms.

Netflix's Shifting Focus?

The cancellation of Don't Starve Together's Netflix Games exclusivity raises questions about the platform's future commitment to indie titles. This, along with other canceled indie exclusives like Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, suggests a potential shift in strategy. Don't Starve's considerable success and iconic status in the survival genre make its absence from Netflix Games particularly noteworthy. This raises concerns about the prospects for other indie games on the platform. Netflix's indie game catalogue has been a major draw, and its potential downsizing is disappointing.

For further insight into my perspective on Netflix Games' direction and its impact on indie developers, I recommend reading my article on the launch of Squid Game: Unleashed. This piece explores the potential negative consequences of Netflix's increasing focus on its own IP at the expense of its impressive indie lineup.