Former Netflix VP of games Mike Verdu exits streaming firm

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Former Netflix VP of games Mike Verdu has left the streaming firm after nearly four years.

The company has confirmed the news to PocketGamer.biz, originally reported by Game File. Verdu first joined Netflix in 2021 to head up its foray into games.

He left the role in June last year and eventually took up the position of VP of GenAI for games. At the time the executive said he was working to drive “a once in a generation inflection point” for game development and player experiences using generative AI.

Leadership changes

Verdu was replaced in the top job by ex-Epic Games EVP of development Alain Tascan as president of the games division in July 2024.

Netflix has gone through a shake up of its games operations since Tascan’s appointment. Earlier this year, we reported that VP of external games Leanne Loombe had left the company. Meanwhile, the streaming firm also closed its internal studio Team Blue, reportedly working on a triple-A, multi-platform game. 

Key staff members at the studio such as Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny, Halo creative lead Joesph Staten and God of War art director Rafael Grassetti also left the company.

Last year Netflix Co-CEO Gregory Peters said it had calibrated the growth in investment in games with the growth in the business impact.

“We’re being disciplined about how we scale that,” he said during an investor call.

“So now obviously, the job is to continue to grow that engagement to the place where it has a material impact on the business.”