Netflix is joining forces with one of the biggest names in board games: Catan. The streaming giant has signed a deal to build a franchise around the iconic game. The deal comes as the game franchise celebrates its 30th Anniversary. Here are the details.
Netflix Planning Multiple Projects
Netflix is teaming with Catan game developer Asmodee to develop multiple film and television adaptations. The deal will include live-action and animated productions, some scripted and some unscripted. The streamer also has plans to develop video games based on the game. The projects will be produced through a partnership between Darren Kyman of Asmodee, Pete Fenlon from Catan Studio (an Asmodee studio), game creator Klaus Teuber’s sons Guido and Benjamin Teuber, and Roy Lee from Vertigo Entertainment.
The World of Catan
Klaus Teuber created the iconic board game 30 years ago, and it has steadily grown and evolved ever since. The game has spawned numerous spinoffs, tie-ins, and expansion packs, as well as video games and two series of novels by separate authors. The original game, The Settlers of Catan, is a multiplayer strategy world-building game where players try to build and expand their settlement by bartering for and producing materials. It was developed in Germany in 1995, and the English version was released the following year. The game is now available in over 40 languages and has sold over 45 million copies worldwide. It has truly become a global phenomenon.
Not The Streamer’s First Game Adaptation
This is not Netflix’s first foray into board game, card game, and video game programming, though it may be its biggest. The streaming service has already developed programming centered on Castlevania, Arcane, Exploding Kittens, Assassin’s Creed, Monopoly, Clue, Dungeons and Dragons’ Forgotten Realms, and Gears of War. Netflix had already partnered with Asmodee to turn The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow into the 2024 French film Family Pack. Conversely, the two companies also teamed up to create board games based on some of the streaming service’s most popular shows, like Ozark, Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton.
The Big Announcements
Asmodee announced the deal in the most Catan way possible, entitling their press release “Netflix scores 10 victory points, winning rights to global phenomenon CATAN® with wide-range deal.” The developer later added, “Netflix traded a brick and a wood to pave the way” to making the deal happen. Meanwhile, in their release, the streaming giant touted, “The beloved board game is building a new world — this time, on your screen.”
A Few Final Thoughts
For fans of the game, this is a huge partnership. Playing the game is one thing, but seeing it come alive in the form of movies and streaming series could be spectacular if done properly. It will be interesting to see if any of the adaptations follow the books or if they are all original plots.
From the business side of things, Asmodee should see a substantial return from this deal, even if the screen adaptations somehow fall short of expectations. As for the streaming side of it, one only has to look at the recent success of the Minecraft movie to see the potential financial windfall of investing in bringing a game played by millions to the screen. Minecraft made just under one billion dollars worldwide at the box office on a budget of around $150 million. The deal looks like a major win for everyone involved.
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