What's new
Unconfirmed reports reveal that Netflix proposed a $500 million deal to acquire exclusive film and television adaptation rights for Xbox video game properties over a seven-year period. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and the company's business affairs team countered with an $800 million price tag. The proposed agreement ultimately did not move forward, and the initial offer was reportedly withdrawn following the departure of Netflix's former chief content officer, Bela Bajaria. Neither company has confirmed these figures, with Netflix declining to comment and Xbox pointing to projects already underway.
About the series
While a massive exclusive overall contract was not signed, several individual adaptations between Xbox and Netflix are actively in development:
- An animated Minecraft show featuring WildBrain as the animation producer, which will tell an original narrative with new characters.
- A live-action Gears of War movie alongside an adult animated series.
- An animated Diablo series that was confirmed during BlizzCon 2026. However, its story details, creative team, and release window are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
To give its screen adaptations a dedicated home, Microsoft has also created a dedicated division named XP, which includes Xbox Pictures.
What to expect
Rather than locking its entire game portfolio into a single exclusive arrangement, Xbox is seeking smaller licenses across various platforms and studios. This approach allows individual gaming franchises to find tailored formats and broadcast partners. For instance, Fallout is made for Prime Video, while live-action Minecraft movies and a Call of Duty film exist outside of Netflix.
While negotiating smaller licenses can lengthen development timelines and leave some projects sitting in development for years, it enables Xbox to build out its screen presence without handing every property over to one streaming service.
Source: netflix new series release - BingNews · Published October 24, 2026 · Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash