Joseph Staten is a name well-known to Halo fans after a long history with the franchise that started in cinematic direction roles from the original game up to Halo 3: ODST before becoming Senior Creative Director on 2021’s Halo Infinite (among credits on plenty of other high-profile Xbox games).
Now, after having been shuffled from 343 Industries to a role within Microsoft amid that studio’s layoffs in January, and then eventually leaving Microsoft altogether, Staten has announced that he’s joined Netflix Games in a Creative Director role for a brand-new game. The game will apparently be a AAA, multiplatform title based on an original IP, which is a seemingly massive step for Netflix.
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
“In my work life, there’s nothing I love more than collaborating with others to build worlds filled with iconic characters, deep mysteries, and endless adventures,” the tweet announcing the move reads.
“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!”
Staten hasn’t revealed anything further about the game or who’s developing it within Netflix Games, but the streaming giant is continuing to push into the gaming space with force. Last year it announced it was creating its own games studio, based in Finland, adding to an existing stable of studios under its wing including Night School (Oxenfree).
Netflix also launched its gaming platform just over a year ago, and so far, 55 games have dropped for the service including indie darlings such as Before Your Eyes and Immorality, well-established franchises such as TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge as well as extremely successful games based on Netflix properties such as Too Hot To Handle.
Netflix plans to launch another 40 games before the end of the year, with 70 in development from partners as well as 16 being developed at in-house Netflix studios.
