BonusXP, the game studio that collaborated with Netflix to launch its gaming venture and brought "Stranger Things" titles to mobile devices, as well as desktop and consoles, is closing down.
The Texas-based studio announced the closure through its social media channels on Wednesday evening.
We've begun the hard process of shutting down BonusXP. We've loved making games for you for the past 11 years," the studio said in a message posted on Twitter.
BonusXP was founded in 2012 as an indie studio. However, it started adding licensed games to its portfolio based on Netflix shows in 2017.
The first game developed by BonusXP based on the Netflix horror show "Stranger Things" was Stranger Things: The Game. In 2021, Netflix launched the game title on mobile devices as Stranger Things: 1984. The game studio also developed Stranger Things 3: The Game, which the streaming giant bought as part of its initial mobile games.
Apart from its Stranger Things titles, BonusXP developed The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics based on Netflix's fantasy-adventure series. It was released in 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and macOS.
It's unclear what prompted BonusXP to shut up shop overnight, but the studio laid off its full staff, according to our understanding. Its website was also down when this article was filed.
"Our focus is on helping our team find their next opportunities," the studio said in its public message.
BonusXP co-founder and CEO Dave Pottinger isn't available to comment for this story now.
Netflix, in collaboration with BonusXP, has partnered with other game developers, like Ubisoft, to offer 55 games to its customers. The company acquired three game studios and established its own studios to accelerate the growth of the gaming business. Additionally, it is adding 40 new games this year and has 70 in development with its partners and 16 by its native studios.
TechCrunch has reached out to Netflix for comment on the closing of BonusXP and will update this story if the company responds.