Netflix's gaming boss Mike Verdu leaves company in less than a year after he was shifted to this department

Mike Verdu, the executive who launched Netflix's gaming initiative, has left the streaming giant, a Netflix representative confirmed. His departure comes less than a year after his role shifted from leading the gaming division to serving as VP of Generative AI for games.
According to GamerFile, Verdu's exit follows significant leadership changes in Netflix's gaming operation. Last July, the company brought in Alain Tascan, a veteran from Epic, EA, and Ubisoft, to head the gaming division. This leadership transition coincided with major strategic shifts, including the shutdown of Team Blue studio, which had been developing Netflix's first AAA game.
The streaming company's gaming division has undergone substantial restructuring recently. Several previously announced game releases have been canceled, and Verdu's senior colleague Leanne Loombe, who managed third-party relations with game developers, departed for Annapurna in January.
Despite these changes, Netflix executives continue to emphasize their commitment to gaming during investor calls. The company has signaled plans to focus on couch co-op party games and titles that tie into Netflix shows, exemplified by December's launch of a Squid Game video game that was available to all mobile users rather than exclusively to Netflix subscribers.
Verdu joined Netflix in 2021 to spearhead its gaming efforts, which included releasing dozens of mobile games for subscribers and building an internal game development operation through studio acquisitions and startups. During his tenure, Verdu described Netflix's approach to gaming as a "patient bet."
Netflix will maintain its presence at next week's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, where the industry will gather despite notable absences from companies like Epic Games, Ubisoft, and Nintendo, all of which have scaled back their usual GDC activities this year.