Minecraft: Story Mode coming to Netflix, Telltale plans Stranger Things game

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

The gaming world is about to get turned upside down (eh?) as Netflix and Telltale Games have announced that they are joining forces to bring "Minecraft: Story Mode" to their streaming service later this year. The duo have also confirmed that they are working on a video game based on Netflix's STRANGER THINGS for both PC and consoles.

“Yes, we can confirm ‘Minecraft: Story Mode’ is a licensed five episode interactive narrative series coming to our service this fall,” a Netflix spokesperson told Variety. “It’s an extension of other interactive adventures we have on our service like ‘Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout,’ ‘Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale,’ and ‘Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile.'” The team then added, “The game based on ‘Stranger Things’ is being published by Telltale at a later date, not on the Netflix service.”

 “We’re delighted by the response we’re seeing to the idea of ‘Minecraft: Story Mode’ coming to Netflix in the fall as an interactive adventure,” Telltale Games said in a statement. “Separately, we’re thrilled to confirm that Telltale is developing a game based on ‘Stranger Things’ that we’ll publish to consoles and computers at a later date. Our partnership with Netflix is something we’re incredibly proud of, and while we don’t have anything more to share right now, we’re excited to reveal details on these projects later in the year.”

In regard to "Minecraft: Story Mode," it sounds as if the interface for that game series will harken back to the days of old, when video-related gaming was controlled using your television remote. According to TechRadar, the game will be presented via video files programmed to respond to your device's directional and select buttons. I must say that I'm in agreement with Variety's Stephanie Fogel in thinking that the direct control interface will pair seamlessly with the demands of Telltale's choose-your-own-adventure style gameplay. For the moment, there's been no confirmation as to whether or not combat sequences will be a part of the action in the Netflix show. To that end, sources close to the Telltale project have told TechRadar that a playable demo of the game is already available to select outlets.

Despite Netflix already having their own interactive shows in PUSS IN BOOK: TRAPPED IN AN EPIC TALE and BUDDY THUNDERSTRUCK: THE MAYBE PILE, the streaming giant says they have no intention of entering into the gaming market on a larger scale. “There’s a broad spectrum of entertainment available today. Games have become increasingly cinematic, but we view this as interactive narrative storytelling on our service.”

Will you be checking out "Minecraft: Story Mode" when it comes to Netflix? Are you excited to hear that STRANGER THINGS is expanding its reach by wandering into the gaming arena? Personally, I'd love to see a STRANGER THINGS turn-based RPG come out of this deal. It could be set up like an old school Dungeons & Dragons crawler with plenty of Demigorgons to slay and '80s references to be had. Game on!