By Sagar V. Mankar 
Netflix is actively expanding its gaming library, as suggested by recent job postings that hint at two new ambitious projects. According to Mobilegamer.biz, the company is working on an “AI-powered life simulation game” inspired by Stardew Valley and a “dual-screen, narrative-driven, action-arcade game” playable through cloud streaming.
A job listing for a lead designer on Mike Verdu’s new AI-based games innovation team seeks developers familiar with the life-simulation genre, particularly Stardew Valley. The ideal candidate should have experience with procedurally generated content and designing social features that encourage multiplayer interaction. Additionally, the team is recruiting an art director skilled in mobile game development and a senior producer with expertise in building games for early-stage or experimental platforms. These roles, based in California, come with salaries of up to $600,000.
Another set of job postings suggests Netflix is developing a narrative-driven action-arcade game tied to one of its popular intellectual properties (IPs). This project will leverage Netflix’s proprietary cloud streaming technology for direct delivery to televisions. The game is described as a “dual-screen experience” with fast-paced action and a playful tone. The roles for this project, including a game designer and an artist, emphasize skills like cell shading, lighting, and familiarity with legacy platforms such as the Nintendo Switch.
Beyond game development, Netflix is bolstering its gaming platform infrastructure. A principal engineer position in its Games Experience Engineering team references work on both mobile and cloud-based games. This high-paying role, offering up to $1.2 million, requires at least 13 years of industry experience, reflecting the complexity and scale of Netflix’s ambitions.
The company is also expanding its social and party game division, rumored to be tied to an upcoming Squid Game project. A producer role for this division offers a salary of up to $600,000, demonstrating Netflix’s commitment to premium talent acquisition.
Netflix’s foray into gaming has been eventful. After significant hires in 2022 and 2023, the company faced challenges in 2024. Mike Verdu, who led the gaming push, departed to head a new AI-focused team. His successor, Alain Tascan, disbanded a highly skilled team working on a live-service multiplayer project to realign strategies.
Despite these shifts, Netflix continues to grow its gaming footprint. By September, its games had surpassed 210 million lifetime downloads, with GTA: San Andreas emerging as the most popular title, amassing 25 million downloads.
Sources: Mobilegamer.biz.