Netflix must have a lot of cash just sloshing around after their failed bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. They tried to throw $500 million of it at Microsoft.
A report at Puck say they offered the tech giant the $500 million for a seven year deal for exclusive rights to develop films and TV shows based on Xbox games.
The report alleges that Microsoft responded by telling them the price was $800 million, and as a result the deal fell through.
Microsoft confirmed to Puck:
“We have received record-breaking interest in our I.P.; Netflix is a valued partner and we are excited for the forthcoming release of our Minecraft and Diablo animated series together, among other adaptations.”
They are now said to be in pursuit of smaller deals on a case-by-case basis rather than a catch-all scenario.
Microsoft has worked with Paramount on the live-action Halo series, but that only lasted two seasons,
Paramount is also the home of a Call Of Duty project. Amazon has Fallout, and Warner Bros. (Now Skydance) has a Minecraft sequel in the works.
With studios still being risk averse, game IP is now becoming an increasingly fertile hunting ground.
