Netflix’s First Head of Gaming Leaves Company After Moving to Generative AI Team

Former Netflix Games boss Mike Verdu, who until recently served as vice president of generative AI for games, has apparently left the company.

Image source: Netflix

Game File journalist Stephen Totilo, citing a Netflix representative, reported that Verdu is no longer listed as a part of the streaming giant. The reasons for the specialist’s departure are not disclosed.

Verdu joined Netflix in 2021 ahead of adding mobile games to the service’s catalog and organizing a merger of internal studios (founded for this purpose or acquired).

Last summer, Netflix hired former Epic Games VP of development Alain Tascan to lead its gaming division. Verdu, meanwhile, joined the generative AI team for games.

Image source: GamesIndustry.biz

Following Tuskan’s appointment, the company shuttered Team Blue, the studio where Halo and God of War veterans were working on Netflix’s first AAA game, and scrapped a number of previously planned new releases.

In addition, Verdu’s closest ally in the games division, Leanne Loombe, who headed publishing and production initiatives at third-party studios, left Netflix in January.

Netflix executives continue to pitch their gaming plans to investors during quarterly earnings calls, with the company recently putting an extra emphasis on co-op experiences and projects based on Netflix series.