In an intriguing turn of events, 26 talented developers from the now-defunct Netflix studio Boss Fight Entertainment have united to create a brand new venture called Sunwise Games. This development raises compelling questions about collaboration and creativity in the gaming industry.
Former Boss Fight Entertainment team members have taken the bold step of launching their own independent studio after Netflix’s acquisition of Boss Fight in 2022. Known for its successful free-to-play mobile game, Dungeon Boss, the studio was integrated into Netflix's internal development teams. However, despite the popularity of titles like Squid Game: Unleashed—which Irin Berry, the former lead game engineer, noted achieved global chart-topping success and reached tens of millions within just a few months—the studio was abruptly shut down in October 2025.
Berry took to LinkedIn to share the exciting news about the formation of Sunwise Games, describing it as an "independent PC game studio dedicated to creating systems-driven games that offer long-term depth, clear progression, and ethical monetization strategies." The studio aims to maintain a deliberately small, senior-led structure that prioritizes sustainability over rapid expansion, with plans to reveal its first "PC-first" title soon.
In his announcement, Berry emphasized the strong bond among the core team members, stating, "A core group of us had already built and shipped multiple complex games together, including our title that reached #1 across dozens of countries and scaled to a truly global audience. We trusted one another, understood how to collaborate at scale, and knew that kind of team cohesion is rare." This shared history and mutual trust played a significant role in their decision to stay united rather than disperse after the studio's closure.
The Sunwise team has grown to 30 developers, incorporating the original 26 from Boss Fight along with carefully selected new talent who align with their values and creative vision. Berry highlighted that this team is equipped with extensive experience in developing, operating, and maintaining games on a large scale.
Concluding his post, Berry expressed that Sunwise embodies the future the team envisions for the gaming industry.
This situation poses an interesting discussion point: Can a focused, smaller studio bring a fresh perspective to an industry often dominated by larger entities? What do you think about the approach of fostering sustainability and depth over rapid growth in game development? Share your thoughts!
