Media Industry Layoffs and Restructuring: Netflix Shuts Game Studios, Amazon Divests MMOs, and Forbes Fires Top Editor

The media industry saw significant restructuring this week as Netflix announced the closure of two game studios, Night School Studio and Moonloot, as part of a strategic shift toward party games and TV-streamed titles. Night School, acquired in 2021, was the developer behind the horror game "Unhinged," which had released less than two months prior. The closures reflect a broader trend of media companies reassessing their gaming investments.

In parallel, Amazon Game Studios returned publishing responsibilities for the MMOs "Lost Ark" and "Throne and Liberty" to developers Smilegate and NC, respectively, signaling a pivot away from massively multiplayer online games. Additionally, Forbes fired its top editor, Randall Lane, after discovering he received a secret $6 million payment from the founder of Shook Research, a company that worked with Forbes on content about wealth advisers. These moves highlight ongoing turmoil and strategic realignment across media and gaming sectors.