Picture: The Odd Gentlemen
One of Netflix’s most interesting upcoming gaming titles, Harmonium, will no longer be hitting the platform, What’s on Netflix has learned. The game is still planned to be released on other platforms, but it will no longer be available on mobile via Netflix. It comes as Netflix cuts back significantly on its investment in mobile games and pivots its priorities to other gaming categories.
First announced in 2023, the game comes from The Odd Gentleman studio that places players in the shoes of Melody, a deaf 10-year-old girl navigating a fantasy world using sign language, some of it newly invented for the game. Developed with deep involvement from the deaf community, including creators Matt and Kay Daigle, the game incorporates authentic and expressive animation of sign language, going beyond hands to include essential facial movements like eyebrow raises and pacing.
The game received a glowing review from Stephen Totilo (Gamefile), who was invited to Los Angeles only last summer for a showcase put on by Netflix for their upcoming releases. The experience proved challenging and eye-opening for Totilo as he detailed finding themself struggling to understand visual cues and gestures, underscoring the complexity and nuance of sign language communication. Unlike traditional gameplay challenges, Harmonium relies on interpreting facial expressions and hand movements as clues to solve puzzles, encouraging players to experience what it’s like to communicate in a non-verbal world.
A release date was never announced for the game, although it once appeared on the Netflix 2024 Games Slate list; however, that release didn’t materialize. There was speculation that it would be pushed to an early 2025 release, but it was notably absent when Netflix unveiled its 2025 slate.
Further confirming the game is no longer heading to Netflix, the press website for the game has been updated to remove any reference to Netflix and simply states the game is “Coming to: PC and Microsoft Game Pass”. Before it read, “Coming to: Netflix Games and Microsoft Game Pass”.
Netflix’s upcoming mobile game slate appears rather slim, with only two confirmed releases for the remainder of the year: Rebel Moon: Blood Line and WWE 2K, both scheduled for release in the Fall. There’s a puzzle game that’s currently in testing, but beyond that, Netflix’s mobile ambitions appear subdued, focusing mainly on supporting titles and its new efforts in big-screen experiences, which are expected to begin rolling out later this year. It’s been rough otherwise with a slew of removals and canceled titles.
The news comes after we recently received a full reveal for Chicken Run: Eggstraction, which was initially intended to release exclusively on Netflix. This makes sense, given that Netflix carried the long-awaited sequel to Chicken Run exclusively, although it’s now releasing on multiple platforms beyond Netflix.