Cozy Grove Developer Spry Fox Leaves Netflix, Spirit Crossing Still Coming
- Sagar Mankar
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Spry Fox, the studio behind Cozy Grove and Alphabear, is leaving Netflix and returning to independent status.
The developer is being sold back to its original founders, David Edery and Daniel Cook, and will continue work on its ambitious upcoming project, Spirit Crossing.
While this marks another shift in Netflix’s gaming strategy, the arrangement is not a complete severing of ties—Netflix will still publish the mobile version of Spirit Crossing when it launches.
Unlike Team Blue and Boss Fight Entertainment, which were shuttered entirely, Spry Fox is being given the chance to thrive outside Netflix’s umbrella.
According to reports from Variety, the studio will now be free to shop Spirit Crossing to other publishers for console and PC releases. This move gives the game a broader future, but it also comes with challenges. Layoffs remain a possibility, and Spry Fox will need to secure additional funding to sustain operations long-term.
Spirit Crossing’s Ambitious Vision
Spirit Crossing was formally announced earlier this year at GDC. The game is described as a “cooperative village life sim” designed to foster "kindness, friendship, and community." Think of it as a blend of Animal Crossing: New Horizons with the social depth of MMOs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV.
The project was initially developed under the codename “Project Friendship” and has already attracted attention, with early access playtests drawing thousands of downloads.
Netflix’s Changing Strategy
Netflix acquired Spry Fox in late 2022, during a period when the company was aggressively expanding into games. At that time, Netflix was buying studios, funding projects, and licensing a wide range of mobile titles.
However, the strategy shifted after Epic Games veteran Alain Tascan replaced Mike Verdu as head of Netflix’s gaming division in 2024. Tascan has steered the company toward games based on Netflix IP, social party titles, and mainstream experiences. Spirit Crossing doesn’t fit neatly into that mold, which may explain why Netflix chose to part ways with Spry Fox.