Night School Studio is a small independent game development company based in Glendale, California. Founded by cousins Sean Krankel and Adam Hines, the studio started in a single room office, situated in the same building as actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s media company, HitRecord. In 2014, Night School Studio emerged as one of the many independent studios that aimed to break free from the constraints of traditional game development and pursue creative freedom.
Sean Krankel, a former developer for Disney, served as the charismatic spokesperson for Night School Studio. His enthusiasm and passion for the company’s vision attracted attention, while Adam Hines, the more stoic partner, brought his creative expertise from his work on the beloved graphic novel “Duncan the Wonder Dog” and his stint at Telltale Games, known for its exceptional narrative work. With their combined talents, Krankel and Hines assembled a team of talented artists and designers, and in 2016, they released their first game, “Oxenfree,” a supernatural thriller that garnered widespread acclaim from gamers.
Over the years, Night School Studio continued to release innovative games. They developed a tie-in game for the USA Network TV show “Mr. Robot” and another adventure game for consoles called “Afterparty.” However, their trajectory took a significant turn in September 2021, when Netflix acquired Night School Studio as part of its expansion into the gaming industry.
This partnership with Netflix brought new opportunities and challenges for Night School Studio. On the one hand, it provided a platform for their games to reach a massive audience. Netflix has millions of subscribers worldwide, many of whom may not be active gamers. Therefore, Night School Studio saw it as an opportunity to make their games accessible to a broader audience and become an integral part of Netflix’s gaming division.
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As Night School Studio prepares for the release of “Oxenfree II: Lost Signals,” they view it as a litmus test for their collaboration with Netflix and the future of indie studios partnering with large tech companies. It will determine whether streaming services like Netflix can provide a haven for independent game developers and whether the acquisition was fruitful for Night School Studio.
Sean Krankel expresses the studio’s goal of being ubiquitous within the Netflix ecosystem and offering a wide range of entertainment options for subscribers. It’s not about achieving the same level of popularity as Netflix’s hit series “Squid Game” but rather about providing ample choice for every individual to discover their next favorite movie, show, or game. Krankel emphasizes the need to avoid overthinking and instead focuses on creating games that resonate with a diverse audience.
Night School Studio’s games revolve around the theme of growth and navigating different stages of life. They aim to create experiences that feel like personality tests, where players’ choices and actions shape the narrative. “Oxenfree” tells the story of a group of teenagers facing supernatural occurrences on a mysterious island, while “Afterparty” follows two college students attempting to outdrink the devil in hell. With “Oxenfree II,” the studio aims to incorporate the cadence of real life into supernatural situations, blending shock and horror with humor as a defense mechanism for the characters.
In conclusion, Night School Studio’s acquisition by Netflix marked a significant turning point for the studio. They strive to reach mass appeal through their games, aligning with Netflix’s vision of providing diverse entertainment choices to their subscribers. With the imminent release of “Oxenfree II: Lost Signals,” Night School Studio and Netflix will discover whether their partnership has paid off, offering insights into the future of collaboration between small game developers and streaming platforms.
