The Netflix edition of the supernatural thriller Oxenfree is now available to play and joins the list of titles on the platform.
The 2016 supernatural mystery game Oxenfree, developed and published by Night School Studio, is now available for mobile via Netflix. Fans of the award-winning indie game have been waiting for the release ever since Netflix acquired Night School Studio in September 2021 as part of its ongoing efforts to expand into the video game space.
The subscription video streaming service began taking steps to integrate games on the platform in 2018 when it partnered with Telltale Games. Since then, a number of titles have been released on Netflix, which can be played on portable devices such as Android and iOS phones and tablets. The company acquired mobile developer Boss Fight Entertainment in March 2022, and on September 26, Netflix announced that it will start an in-house game studio in Helsinki, Finland.
Now, six years after launch, Oxenfree will be playable with a Netflix subscription. The game is already available on mobile devices since 2017, as well as on PC and latest generation consoles. The advantage of the title being added to Netflix is that access is included in a standard Netflix membership, and the service currently offers more than 25 mobile games, some of which are exclusive to the platform.
Night School Studio is also currently developing Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, which was originally scheduled for release in late 2021 on PC, Switch, PS4, and PS5. It is unclear at this time if the sequel title will now be released as a Netflix exclusive or if it will continue to be available on other platforms. Lost Signals takes place five years after the events of the first game and introduces a new character named Riley.
While some people may be excited about the prospect of Netflix expanding into video games and now even starting its own studio, others aren’t so excited. The company raised subscription prices earlier in the year, resulting in a drop in subscribers for the first time in a decade, with many people blaming the introduction of games on the service for the price increase. Another rate hike was recently announced for some countries like the UK and combined with rising costs due to inflation, people are once again threatening to cancel their subscriptions.
Those who stick with Netflix, however, will be able to enjoy a unique and memorable game that has earned its positive reception. Oxenfree made a lasting impact on the indie game scene, with many fans praising its engaging graphics, atmosphere, and sharp writing. Night School Studio even toyed with adapting the story into a movie, an idea that was later scrapped in favor of a TV series, which is all the more plausible after Netflix’s acquisition of the developer.
Oxenfree is currently available on mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.