Netflix Games vice president of generative AI, Mike Verdu, has departed the company.
Netflix confirmed the news in a statement to Game File—although it’s currently unclear why Verdu has exited less than five months after agreeing to oversee the streamer’s generative AI machinations.
Verdu joined the company in 2021 and initially served as VP of Netflix Games. He vacated the role in 2024 amid a leadership reshuffle that eventually saw former Epic Games exec Alain Tascan brought in to lead the division.
Following that shake up, Verdu was named VP of generative AI for games to help Netflix capitalize on what he called a “once in a generation inflection point for game development and player experiences.”
Netflix Games’ journey so far
Netflix remains eager to break into the video game industry, but has seemingly struggled to find its bearings.
After initially splashing the cash to kickstart internal studios and acquire notable developers, the company shuttered its only triple-A studio in October last year before laying off a number of employees at Oxenfree developer Night School Studios.
Since launching Netflix Games in 2021, the company has expended its catalog from a lightweight roster to a more robust rolodex featuring over 80 mobile titles—including some that leverage homegrown Netflix properties and notable third-party releases like Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy.
It’s unclear how well the service is performing, however, with Netflix often neglecting to share concrete metrics.
During a recent earnings call, Netflix bosses explained Grand Theft Auto drove “tens of millions of downloads” and said Squid Game: Unleashed became the top action title on app stores in over 107 countries.
Yet, they also described the impact of games on subscriber acquisition and retention as “relatively small.”
Looking ahead, Netflix intends to remain “disciplined” about scaling its game investments and member benefits to build a “virtuous cycle between linear content and simultaneous game offerings.”
Game Developer has reached out to Netflix for comment.