Don’t Nod just dropped news that nobody saw coming. The French studio behind Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage has signed a development agreement with Netflix to create a narrative game based on a major IP from the streaming giant. This is massive for two reasons. First, Don’t Nod has never worked on established intellectual property before, building their entire reputation on original story-driven games. Second, Netflix has a vault of beloved shows, and speculation about which one is already dominating gaming forums. Everyone’s betting on Stranger Things, but nothing is confirmed yet.
Why This Is a Big Deal
Don’t Nod has spent a decade perfecting narrative-driven choice-based games where player decisions meaningfully alter story outcomes. Life is Strange became a cultural phenomenon in 2015, touching on themes like mental health, LGBTQ identity, and the consequences of messing with time. The studio followed with Life is Strange 2, Tell Me Why, Jusant, and most recently Lost Records: Bloom & Rage in early 2025. Every single one of these titles was original IP created from scratch by Don’t Nod’s writers and designers.
Taking on someone else’s established property represents a fundamental shift in their creative process. Instead of building worlds and characters from nothing, they’ll adapt existing stories, settings, and fan expectations. This could either elevate the source material through interactive storytelling or constrain Don’t Nod’s creative freedom depending on how much control Netflix maintains. The partnership was announced in Don’t Nod’s mid-year financial report for 2025, framed as a new milestone confirming their position as a specialist in storytelling for major IPs.
The Montreal Studio Takes Lead
The project is being developed by Don’t Nod’s Montreal studio, a newer team that includes some of the original designers behind the first Life is Strange. This studio released Lost Records: Bloom & Rage earlier in 2025, their debut title as a distinct unit within the larger Don’t Nod structure. Putting them in charge of the Netflix adaptation makes sense given their experience with narrative games, though it also means the project is likely early in development since Lost Records just shipped.
Everyone Thinks It’s Stranger Things
The internet immediately started guessing which Netflix IP would get the Don’t Nod treatment. Stranger Things dominates speculation for obvious reasons. It’s Netflix’s most recognizable original series, features teenage protagonists navigating supernatural mysteries in an 80s nostalgia setting, and perfectly aligns with Don’t Nod’s wheelhouse. The show also concludes with its fifth and final season in early 2026, meaning a game could keep the IP profitable and relevant after the series wraps.
The thematic overlap between Stranger Things and Life is Strange is undeniable. Both focus on young people dealing with extraordinary circumstances in small-town America. Both explore friendship, sacrifice, and how choices ripple through communities. Both blend supernatural elements with grounded emotional storytelling. A Don’t Nod-developed Stranger Things game where your decisions determine who lives, who dies, and how the story resolves sounds incredible on paper.
Other Possibilities
Wednesday is another strong candidate. Tim Burton’s Addams Family spin-off became one of Netflix’s most-watched series, and its gothic atmosphere combined with coming-of-age themes would suit Don’t Nod’s style. Squid Game offers darker possibilities, though the brutal violence and social commentary might clash with Don’t Nod’s typical approach. Black Mirror’s anthology format could enable multiple branching narratives exploring technology’s impact on humanity, which actually sounds perfect for interactive storytelling.
The speculation gets wilder from there. Could it be The Umbrella Academy with its dysfunctional superhero family dynamics? Arcane with its League of Legends pedigree and stunning animation? Shadow and Bone for fantasy fans? Or something completely unexpected like a narrative game set in the Castlevania animated universe? Until Don’t Nod or Netflix reveal specifics, everyone’s just throwing darts at a board full of popular shows.
Netflix’s Gaming Ambitions
This partnership fits Netflix’s evolving gaming strategy. The streaming giant has positioned games as one of three core media offerings alongside movies and TV series, treating interactive entertainment as a fundamental pillar rather than a side experiment. Netflix currently offers over 100 games to subscribers at no additional cost, ranging from mobile titles to narrative experiences like Kentucky Route Zero and Oxenfree that they acquired through publishing deals.
The strategy hasn’t been without stumbles. Netflix shut down its Team Blue AAA game development studio and walked back plans to add six titles to its lineup earlier in 2025. Leadership for games changed at the start of the year, and the focus has since pivoted toward party games, kid-friendly content, mainstream titles, and narrative experiences. That last category is where Don’t Nod excels, making this partnership a natural fit for Netflix’s current priorities.
Cloud Gaming Ambitions
Don’t Nod’s announcement specifically mentions exploring new formats including cloud gaming. Netflix has been testing cloud-streamed games, allowing subscribers to play select titles directly through their web browser or smart TV without downloads or dedicated gaming hardware. A narrative game works perfectly for cloud streaming since it doesn’t require twitch reflexes or low-latency inputs like competitive shooters or fighting games.
Imagine playing a Stranger Things narrative adventure on your TV through Netflix’s interface using nothing but a controller, with no console or gaming PC required. The technical barriers disappear, potentially reaching audiences who’d never boot up Steam or navigate PlayStation Store. This accessibility could expose Don’t Nod’s storytelling to millions of Netflix subscribers who don’t consider themselves gamers but loved Life is Strange when friends recommended it.
Don’t Nod’s Financial Struggles
The Netflix deal arrives during a challenging financial period for Don’t Nod. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, their most recent release, performed below expectations according to the same financial report that announced the Netflix partnership. The studio has struggled somewhat to find its identity after moving away from the Life is Strange franchise, which Deck Nine Studios now primarily develops under Square Enix’s publishing.
This Netflix agreement provides strategic stability during that financial reset. Working on established IP with built-in audiences reduces some of the risk inherent in creating original games that might not find commercial success. Don’t Nod gets to lean into their storytelling strengths while operating inside an IP framework that already resonates with millions of viewers. It’s a pragmatic business move that could stabilize the studio while they continue developing original titles like the recently announced sci-fi game Aphelion.
What Format Will It Take
Details about platforms and format remain unknown. Will this be a mobile-exclusive experience like many Netflix games, or a full console and PC release that also streams through Netflix? Will it follow the episodic structure that made Life is Strange famous, or deliver one complete narrative? How much input will Netflix maintain over creative decisions versus letting Don’t Nod operate independently?
The announcement describes it as a narrative video game that builds on Don’t Nod’s recognized expertise in the genre. That suggests a choice-driven experience where player decisions alter story outcomes, possibly featuring multiple endings or branching paths. The specific mechanics, length, and scope won’t be clear until Don’t Nod shows actual gameplay, which likely won’t happen until 2026 at earliest given the Montreal studio just shipped Lost Records.
Fan Reactions
Gaming communities responded to the news with cautious optimism mixed with curiosity. Life is Strange fans are excited to see what Don’t Nod can do with established characters and settings they already love. Others worry that working within IP constraints will limit the creative freedom that made Don’t Nod’s original games special. Some players expressed skepticism about Netflix’s gaming initiatives given the platform’s mixed track record and studio closures.
The most common sentiment is simple curiosity about which IP Don’t Nod is adapting. Until that reveal happens, speculation will continue dominating discussion. Every major Netflix show becomes a potential candidate, with fans debating which properties would best suit Don’t Nod’s narrative style and which audiences would actually play a game instead of just watching the show.
FAQs
Which Netflix IP is Don’t Nod making a game for?
The specific IP hasn’t been revealed. Speculation heavily favors Stranger Things due to thematic overlap with Don’t Nod’s previous work, but it could be any major Netflix original including Wednesday, Squid Game, Black Mirror, or others.
When will the Netflix game release?
No release date or window has been announced. Given that the Montreal studio just finished Lost Records: Bloom & Rage in early 2025 and the project was only recently signed, expect development to take at least 2-3 years. A 2027-2028 release seems realistic.
Will this be a mobile game?
The format hasn’t been confirmed. It could be mobile-exclusive like many Netflix games, or a full console/PC release that also streams through Netflix. The announcement mentions exploring cloud gaming formats.
Has Don’t Nod worked on licensed IP before?
No, this is the first time Don’t Nod will work on established intellectual property. Their entire catalog consists of original games including Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.
Who is developing the game?
Don’t Nod’s Montreal studio is leading development. This team includes some of the original designers behind the first Life is Strange and recently released Lost Records as their debut title.
Will it be free for Netflix subscribers?
Most likely yes, following the pattern of Netflix’s existing game library which is included with subscriptions at no additional cost. However, this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
What is Don’t Nod known for?
Don’t Nod is a French studio famous for narrative-driven choice-based games. Life is Strange (2015) put them on the map, followed by Life is Strange 2, Tell Me Why, Vampyr, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.
Why did Netflix partner with Don’t Nod?
Don’t Nod specializes in narrative experiences and interactive storytelling, which aligns with Netflix’s current gaming strategy focused on narrative games and accessible content. Their expertise in emotionally-driven stories makes them ideal for adapting Netflix shows into games.
Will this affect Don’t Nod’s original games?
Don’t Nod is still developing original titles like Aphelion, a sci-fi game revealed at Xbox Showcase 2025. The Netflix project is an additional partnership, not a replacement for their original IP development.
Conclusion
Don’t Nod partnering with Netflix to adapt a major IP represents a fascinating convergence of narrative gaming expertise and streaming entertainment dominance. Whether it’s Stranger Things, Wednesday, or something completely unexpected, the match makes sense on paper. Don’t Nod knows how to craft emotionally resonant stories where player choices matter. Netflix has a catalog of beloved shows with passionate fanbases eager for new ways to engage with those worlds. The question is whether adapting established IP will enhance or constrain Don’t Nod’s creative voice. Their original games succeeded precisely because they told stories nobody else was telling, tackled themes mainstream games avoided, and created characters that felt authentic rather than focus-tested. Working within someone else’s IP means respecting canon, meeting fan expectations, and navigating approval processes that don’t exist when you own the creative vision completely. But it also means reaching audiences who’d never discover Don’t Nod otherwise, proving that narrative games can work as mainstream entertainment, and potentially keeping beloved shows alive through interactive experiences after their final episodes air. Until Don’t Nod reveals which Netflix show they’re adapting, speculation will run wild. Everyone wants it to be their favorite series transformed into a choice-driven adventure where their decisions determine outcomes. The reality is that no matter which IP it is, Don’t Nod faces immense pressure to honor the source material while delivering the quality storytelling they’re known for. Get it right, and they’ll expand their audience and prove licensed games can be just as compelling as original IP. Get it wrong, and they risk alienating both Netflix fans who expect authentic adaptations and Don’t Nod fans who want the creative freedom that made Life is Strange special. The smart money says it’s Stranger Things. The heart hopes it’s whatever property will let Don’t Nod tell the best possible story. And we’ll all just have to wait until the reveal to find out if our guesses were right.