Netflix reportedly offered $500M to license Xbox IP; Xbox said to want $800M

Netflix reportedly offered Microsoft $500 million over seven years to license Xbox IP for film and television adaptations. The claim comes from news site Puck, via GamesIndustry.biz. According to Puck's sources, Asha Sharma and other Xbox executives declined and asked for $800 million instead.

Puck's sources say the offer came from Netflix's former chief content officer, Bela Bajaria. She left earlier this month and was replaced by Peter Rice, a former Disney and Fox executive. After her departure, the deal has reportedly been withdrawn. Puck says Xbox is now pursuing smaller deals with other partners.

Netflix declined to comment on the alleged offer. Xbox did not address the figures. Its statement said it has received record-breaking interest in its IP, calls Netflix a valued partner, and says it is excited for the coming release of its Minecraft and Diablo animated series together, among other adaptations.

The report lands shortly after Xbox announced its XP division, which is meant to deliver transmedia spinoffs including film, TV and theme parks. The unit is led by Kayleen Walters, who is currently president of Minecraft developer Mojang Studios.

GamesIndustry.biz also places the story within Xbox's ongoing reset, which has meant the loss of around 3,200 jobs and the divestment of five studios, including Arkane Lyon. Microsoft has extended the consultation period by one month to look for a new buyer for the French studio, which continues development on Marvel's Blade.

For developers, treat the numbers as unconfirmed reporting from anonymous sources. Only the Xbox statement and the XP division announcement are on the record in these sources.