Interactive Narrative
Ongoing coverage on Interactive Narrative.
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Netflix's gaming "secret weapon" is no more - Oxenfree studio Night School is to close
Netflix has closed Night School Studio, the developer behind Oxenfree and Unhinged, as part of a strategic shift to focus on more mainstream games. The company also shut down Moonloot and is reportedly cutting jobs from its internal games team. This move signifies a reduction in Netflix's gaming ambitions, moving away from experimental and narrative-driven titles.
Netflix's games strategy might be a mess, but Oxenfree studio's ingenious new chiller-thriller shows it has a secret weapon
Netflix's new horror game, Unhinged, developed by Night School Studio, utilizes a unique mechanic where players use their own mobile device to interact with the in-game character's phone. This innovative approach blurs the lines between the player's reality and the game's narrative, creating an immersive experience. Despite Netflix's often inconsistent gaming strategy, Unhinged showcases Night School Studio's potential as a secret weapon for the streaming giant.
Underrated 2024 PS5 Game Just $5.99 on PS Store, Lowest Price
The interactive narrative game The Casting of Frank Stone, developed by Supermassive Games and published by Behaviour Interactive, is available for PlayStation 5 at a discounted price of $5.99 on the PlayStation Store. This limited-time offer represents an 80% price reduction and is part of a sale that concludes next week. The game is also currently included in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog.
Until Dawn 2 Has Been in the Works for At Least 4 Years, as Actor Confirms Joining in 2022
Actor Dacre Montgomery confirmed he joined the development of Until Dawn 2 at Firesprite four years ago, suggesting the game has been in the works since at least 2022. The interactive narrative horror title, a sequel to Supermassive Games' original, is expected to release around 2027 with a new cast and story about paranormal content creators on a haunted island.
The 6 biggest surprises at Summer Game Fest 2026, from a new Resident Evil game to Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
Summer Game Fest 2026 featured numerous major announcements, including the remake of Resident Evil Veronica for 2027 and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation launching simultaneously on all platforms in spring 2027. Other reveals included Alien Isolation 2, Star Wars Zero Company set for August 2026, The Wolf Among Us 2 in 2027, and Guild Wars 3, a prequel launching on PS5 and PC with a closed beta this year.
Short Narrative Game About Parenthood “Held” Reveals Steam Store Page and Official Trailer
Sense of Games Inc. has released the Steam store page and an official trailer for their upcoming short narrative game, "Held." The game focuses on a father's perspective as he witnesses his child's growth and interacts with them through simple actions. "Held" is described as an interactive narrative experience exploring themes of parenthood and the changing parent-child relationship.
Mixtape Review - Something’s Flattened My Cola
Mixtape is a visually stylish coming-of-age adventure developed by Beethoven and Dinosaur that captures the awkward charm of teenage friendships through strong writing and a distinct John Hughes-inspired atmosphere. While the game features memorable characters and an ambitious presentation, it struggles to justify itself as a game due to repetitive autoscrollers, shallow interactivity, and minimal player agency, leading to a passive rather than immersive emotional journey. The game is available on PlayStation 5.
Hacked: The Streamer Drops You Into A Night That Spirals Out Of Control
Hacked: The Streamer, an interactive narrative game from Button Interactive and NAISU, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game puts players in the role of a streamer whose life begins to unravel after receiving a disturbing message, featuring over fifty decision points and five possible endings.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 6 to 10
This weekly feature highlights new games releasing on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC between April 6 and April 10. The lineup includes a variety of genres such as turn-based RPGs, puzzle games, narrative adventures, and horror titles, with many optimized for Xbox Series X|S and supporting Xbox Play Anywhere.
Review: Dispatch (Nintendo Switch 2)
The interactive narrative game Dispatch, previously released on PC and PlayStation, is now available on Nintendo Switch. The superhero-themed office comedy features a compelling story with interesting characters and clever decision-making mechanics, though the lack of meaningful failure in its core dispatch minigame detracts from the overall impact.
