Joseph Staten, a former Halo scribe, has announced that he will be joining Netflix’s gaming division as the creative director on a new AAA game and original intellectual property. Staten made the announcement on Twitter, less than two weeks after leaving Microsoft, where he had been working as a senior creative director on the Xbox Game Studios team. Staten is best known for his work on Bungie’s Halo franchise, where he served as a writer and director of cinematics on the first three games.
Staten’s move to Netflix is significant, as it marks the streaming giant’s first foray into developing a multiplatform AAA game. Until now, the company’s gaming strategy has focused primarily on obtaining mobile publishing rights to respected indie titles. Developing a AAA game is a much more ambitious and risky endeavor, but it’s clear that Netflix is serious about expanding its gaming division.
So today, I'm thrilled to announce that I've joined @Netflix Games as Creative Director for a brand-new AAA multiplatform game and original IP. Let's go! 2/2
— Joseph Staten (@joestaten) April 17, 2023
Staten’s announcement also sheds light on the nature of the game he’s working on. According to Staten, the game will be a “multiplatform” release, which suggests that it will be available on multiple consoles and PC. No further details about the game’s story, characters, or gameplay have been revealed at this time, but given Staten’s experience working on beloved franchises like Halo and Destiny, it’s safe to say that expectations are high.
It remains to be seen how Netflix will balance its growing gaming division with its core business of producing original TV shows and movies. However, with the success of shows like The Witcher and Stranger Things, it’s clear that the company has a deep well of intellectual property to draw from. If the company can leverage its existing IP to create compelling gaming experiences, it could become a major player in the industry.