Netflix's pioneering interactive movie, “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,” is due to be removed from the platform. Along with it, the interactive special “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs The Reverend” will also be removed on May 12, 2025. These are the last few interactive titles left on the streaming giant, hinting at the end of Netflix's experiments with interactivity, even as it expands its gaming inventory.

The decision to pull these original interactive titles was caught by What’s on Netflix and further questions and comments have been sought by Variety from Netflix.

This move comes as Netflix is pushing its focus towards gaming. Its revamped TV homepage now includes games that can be played on integrated TVs, like “Too Hot to Handle 3” and “Oxenfree”. These games can be controlled using your smartphone. A spokesperson from Netflix stated last autumn that the technology behind such interactive TV programming served its purpose and now they are directing their technological efforts towards other areas.

“Bandersnatch,” featured Fionn Whitehead and Will Poulter, and offered a choose-your-own-adventure-style storyline that spanned over five hours. Set in 1984, it follows a young programmer who begins to question his reality while adapting a complex fantasy novel into a video game.

Netflix had initially shown enthusiasm for this interactive technology, with Todd Yellin, then-VP of product, planning to emphasize interactive programming. However, Yellin left the company in 2022.

Similarly, the interactive “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” special, released in 2020, marked the end of the comedy series that spanned four seasons. In its initial announcement, Netflix quoted Tina Fey, co-creator and executive producer, as expressing the interactive special as an excellent way to conclude the series.