Night School Studio

Night School Studio is an American video game developer and publisher based in Glendale, California. Founded in 2014 by Sean Krankel, formerly associated with Disney Interactive Studios, and Adam Hines, formerly of Telltale Games, the studio built its identity around story-rich games that combine exploration, dialogue, distinctive visual design, and player-driven narrative choices. The studio's debut title, Oxenfree, established its reputation. Released in January 2016 for Windows, OS X, and Xbox One, the game follows a group of teenagers who encounter supernatural phenomena on an abandoned island. Its central design idea was to make conversation feel continuous with exploration rather than confining players to conventional cutscenes. Dialogue choices appear during movement, allowing players to shape relationships and events while retaining control of the protagonist. Oxenfree received broadly positive critical attention and later expanded to PlayStation 4 and Linux, with an additional Game+ mode included in subsequent versions. Night School also worked on licensed and cross-media projects. In 2016 it collaborated with Telltale Games on Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n, a mobile game based on the television series Mr. Robot. The project represented the studio's mobile debut and included a text-focused mode co-developed with Telltale. Night School was subsequently involved in a planned companion game connected to Telltale's Stranger Things project. That project was disrupted by Telltale's operational and financial difficulties and its 2018 closure; the Night School game was left unfinished or in limbo. The studio's second major original game, Afterparty, continued its emphasis on conversational storytelling while shifting to a darkly comic premise. Released in 2019, it follows two deceased friends attempting to outdrink Satan in order to escape Hell. The game was developed for multiple platforms and reinforced Night School's position as a creator of stylized, choice-oriented narrative adventures. Netflix acquired Night School Studio in September 2021 as part of its expansion into games. The acquisition allowed the studio to continue work on Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, a sequel that retained the series' supernatural setting and dialogue-driven structure. The sequel was released in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Netflix's gaming service. In 2024, the original Oxenfree was removed from the Itch.io storefront, with affected users reportedly notified that downloads through that storefront would end; the change prompted criticism from some fans. Night School later developed Thronglets, a mobile game associated with the seventh season of Black Mirror and the episode Plaything. The project was designed in collaboration with Charlie Brooker's production team so that the playable work would resemble an object drawn directly from the episode's fictional world. Netflix subsequently announced plans to close the studio in August 2026 while refocusing its games division on party-oriented and story-driven content. Because the announced closure date is in the future relative to some reference periods, the studio's final operating status should be verified against current corporate and industry reporting.

Night School Studio was established in 2014 by Sean Krankel and his cousin Adam Hines. Krankel had worked at Disney Interactive Studios, while Hines had worked at Telltale Games. The founders created the studio to develop original, narrative-centered games rather than conventional action-focused titles. Its early production was undertaken with a limited budget, making the debut project especially important to the company's survival and identity. That debut was Oxenfree, announced in 2015 and released in January 2016. The game centers on teenagers visiting an abandoned island where supernatural events unfold. Night School's principal design innovation was its conversational interface: players could move through the environment while selecting dialogue responses, reducing the separation between exploration and scripted scenes. This approach made conversation a persistent gameplay system and allowed relationships and story developments to respond to player choices. Oxenfree launched first on Windows, OS X, and Xbox One, followed by PlayStation 4 and Linux versions. A Game+ mode expanded the experience and was subsequently included across versions. The game was positively reviewed and received recognition in the independent game sector. In 2016, Night School expanded into licensed mobile development with Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n, based on the television series Mr. Robot and published by Telltale Games. Night School also co-developed a text-based mode with Telltale. The project demonstrated the studio's ability to adapt its narrative methods to mobile devices and an existing entertainment property. Night School later became involved in a planned first-person narrative companion to Telltale's proposed Stranger Things game. The project was intended to lead into or complement Telltale's own adaptation. Telltale's internal problems during 2017 and 2018 caused communication difficulties and payment problems relating to completed milestones. When Telltale unexpectedly shut down in October 2018, the Night School project was left unresolved. Reports indicated that the studio's simultaneous development of Afterparty was important in limiting the financial damage caused by the collapse of the Telltale relationship. Afterparty was released in 2019. It follows two friends who die and then attempt to defeat Satan in a drinking contest so they can return to the living world. The game retained Night School's focus on dialogue, humor, branching interactions, and stylized environments, while replacing Oxenfree's coastal supernatural mystery with a comic interpretation of Hell. It helped establish the studio as a specialist in authored narrative adventures rather than a developer tied to a single franchise. Netflix acquired Night School Studio in September 2021 during a broader effort to build a games offering connected to its streaming business. The acquisition preserved the studio's creative work on Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. Released in 2023, the sequel returned to the supernatural world of Oxenfree and extended the series' exploration, radio-based mysteries, and conversational systems. It appeared across console, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Netflix gaming distribution. In September 2024, the studio removed Oxenfree from Itch.io and informed purchasers that the game would no longer be downloadable there after October 1. Although the available reference material does not establish a formal dispute or legal proceeding, the decision attracted online criticism directed in part at Netflix. Night School also developed Thronglets, a mobile game linked to the seventh season of Black Mirror and specifically the episode Plaything. The project was developed alongside Charlie Brooker's production team to make the real-world game feel integrated with the episode's fictional universe. Netflix announced in August 2026 that it would close Night School Studio while refocusing its games division. The announcement is described as a planned closure and should not automatically be treated as evidence that the studio had already ceased operations at the time of every source publication.

• 2026

  Netflix announces studio closure

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Netflix announced a planned closure of Night School Studio during a restructuring of its games activities.

• 2024

  Oxenfree leaves Itch.io

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The original game was removed from the Itch.io storefront, with prior purchasers told that downloads would end there.

• 2023

  Oxenfree II: Lost Signals launches

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The studio released a sequel that expanded the supernatural narrative and dialogue systems of Oxenfree.

• 2021

  Acquired by Netflix

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Netflix acquired Night School Studio as part of its move into video games.

• 2019

  Afterparty launches

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Night School released Afterparty, a comedic narrative adventure set in Hell.

• 2018

  Stranger Things project is disrupted

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Telltale's closure left Night School's planned Stranger Things companion project in limbo.

• 2016

  Oxenfree launches

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Oxenfree debuted on Windows, OS X, and Xbox One before reaching PlayStation 4 and Linux.

• 2016

  First mobile project

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Night School developed Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n, its mobile game based on the Mr. Robot television series.

• 2015

  Oxenfree is announced

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The studio publicly introduced Oxenfree, its supernatural narrative adventure about teenagers on an abandoned island.

• 2014

  Studio founded

  [1]Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Sean Krankel and Adam Hines established Night School Studio in California.

Narrative-driven interactive entertainment with conversational mechanics, supernatural or fantastical settings, and strong authorial visual identities.

• Narrative adventure game · 2016

  Oxenfree

  Night School Studio's debut game is a supernatural narrative adventure about a group of teenagers exploring an abandoned island. Its signature mechanic lets players choose dialogue while continuing to move through the environment, making conversation part of ordinary exploration rather than a sequence of isolated cutscenes. The game was released for Windows, OS X, and Xbox One in January 2016, followed by PlayStation 4 and Linux versions. A Game+ mode added further replay-oriented content.

• Mobile licensed adventure game · 2016

  Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n

  A mobile game based on the television series Mr. Robot and published by Telltale Games. The project was Night School Studio's mobile debut and included a text-focused mode developed with Telltale. It translated the series' messaging and hacking-oriented atmosphere into an interactive mobile format.

• Narrative adventure game · 2019

  Afterparty

  A dark comedy adventure in which two dead friends attempt to outdrink Satan in order to escape Hell. Like Oxenfree, Afterparty emphasizes dialogue, character relationships, branching choices, and a strong visual identity. Its premise allowed Night School to combine supernatural world-building with irreverent humor and a more overtly comedic tone.

• Narrative adventure game · 2023

  Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

  A sequel to Oxenfree that returns to the franchise's supernatural themes and expands its radio-based mysteries and conversational storytelling. The game was developed after Netflix acquired Night School Studio and was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Netflix's gaming service.

• Mobile game

  Thronglets

  A mobile game created in connection with the seventh season of Black Mirror and the episode Plaything. Night School worked with Charlie Brooker's production team to make the playable title resemble a game extracted from the episode's fictional world.

• 2016The Story of Oxenfree

  Global

  Night School Studio and Skybound Entertainment supported Oxenfree with a web series documenting the game's development, alongside broader plans involving an adaptation and merchandise.

  Outcome. The campaign extended Oxenfree beyond the game itself and promoted its development story and potential cross-media expansion.

  Source

• 2026

  Planned studio closureStrategy

  Background

  Netflix announced a refocusing of its games division around party-oriented and story-driven content.

  Action taken

  Netflix announced that Night School Studio would close on August 13, 2026.

  Aftermath

  The announcement indicates a planned end to the studio's operations, but the final status requires verification against current reporting.

  Source

• 2024

  Removal of Oxenfree from Itch.ioStrategy

  Background

  The studio changed the availability of the original Oxenfree on the Itch.io storefront.

  Action taken

  Night School removed the game and informed existing purchasers that downloads through Itch.io would end on October 1, 2024.

  Aftermath

  Some fans criticized the decision and attributed responsibility to Netflix, although the available reference does not establish a formal scandal or legal dispute.

  Source

• 2021

  Netflix acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Netflix was expanding its games offering and sought established creative studios with experience in narrative development.

  Action taken

  Netflix acquired Night School Studio in September 2021.

  Aftermath

  Night School continued work on Oxenfree II: Lost Signals after the acquisition.

  Source

• 2021-09-29

  Netflix announces acquisition of Night School Studio[2]Netflix宣布收购Night School Studionintendolife.com

  Reported: 2021-09-29

  Netflix announced its first developer acquisition, Night School Studio. Netflix said it planned to work with developers and hire talent to deliver exclusive games to members.

• Unconfirmed

  Netflix acquires Night School Studio[3]Netflix 收购 Night School Studiocomingsoon.net

  Reported: 2021-09-28

  Netflix acquired Night School Studio, its first game studio acquisition. Night School Studio said it would continue work on Oxenfree II.

1. 1Night School Studioen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Netflix宣布收购Night School Studionintendolife.com
3. 3Netflix 收购 Night School Studiocomingsoon.net
4. 4Netflix acquires ‘Oxenfree’ developer and promises to release ‘great collection of exclusive games’ | EconoTimeseconotimes.com
5. 5Netflix Acquires Its First Game Studiodarkhorizons.com
6. 6Netflix acquires Oxenfree studio for push into gaming - KitGurukitguru.net
7. 7Netflix Just Acquired the Award-Winning Studio Behind Oxenfree - IGNign.com