Mobile game company BonusXP has announced on its Twitter account that the studio will be closing after eleven years in the industry. Although the studio did not provide any official explanation regarding the decision, the founder confirmed that the company was undergoing the process of “ceasing operations.” The founder added that the team’s focus was now on helping its members find new opportunities.

BonusXP became a household name for developing games in partnership with Netflix. The mobile game studio was responsible for the popular game titles “Stranger Things: 1984” and “Stranger Things 3: The Game,” which were later launched as titles for Netflix Games. BonusXP also developed a tie-in game for another Netflix series, “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance,” which was released in 2021.

Mobile gaming sector takes a hit

Despite securing its position as the most popular and profitable sector of the gaming industry, mobile gaming faced challenges in 2022. The mobile gaming segment saw a 6.4% decline after the world began to emerge from the pandemic. The decrease indicates that the world has started to normalize, and multiplayer platforms like personal computers and consoles have begun to attract more players.

Furthermore, developers will have to think more creatively to monetize their games, given changes in Apple’s Advertiser Tracking Transparency (ATT) regulations. These modifications make it more difficult for companies to successfully monetize their products. The turbulence led to the closure of numerous firms for BonusXP, whose decision to close may be because the company has been unable to keep up with the market conditions.

BonusXP launched in 2012 and had been a partner with Netflix since 2017. That was a partnership that produced games based on the popular series “Stranger Things,” which clouded BonusXP’s current state and closure. However, the company has resolved to help its team members find new opportunities within the industry.