It's been a while since we last discussed the exciting news about Don't Starve Together coming to Netflix Games, announced back in June 2024. We now have an update that brings both good and bad news. The disappointing part is that Don't Starve Together will no longer be available on Netflix. However, the silver lining is that the game is still set to make its way to mobile platforms.
Playdigious, in collaboration with Klei Entertainment, is diligently working to bring the eerie, Tim Burton-inspired Don't Starve series to iOS and Android devices. In this survival game, you find yourself stranded on an island teeming with hostile creatures. Playing as a range of quirky characters, your goal is to gather resources and survive, with the crucial rule being to *don't starve*.
Originally planned as an exclusive for Netflix Games, Don't Starve Together will now launch globally on iOS and Android through the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store. While a specific release date hasn't been announced yet, both Klei Entertainment and Playdigious have assured fans that an update on the launch is forthcoming.
The decision to pull Don't Starve Together from Netflix suggests that the exclusivity deal may have fallen through. While it's reassuring to know the game will still reach a global audience on mobile, it raises questions about Netflix Games' future commitment to indie titles. Don't Starve is a significant franchise and one of the most iconic survival indie games. If even a game of this stature can lose its spot, what does this mean for other indie developers?
Netflix's indie game catalog has been a major draw for many subscribers, and the loss of titles like Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon alongside Don't Starve Together is concerning. It's worth considering how Netflix's increasing focus on its own properties might impact the diverse range of indie games it has previously supported. For a deeper dive into this topic, you can check out my analysis of the launch of Squid Game: Unleashed and why I believe this shift could be detrimental to the indie scene on the service.
