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What is going on with Netflix games? Were you even aware Netflix made games? It’s not what comes to mind when the biggest streaming service gets mentioned, especially in 2023. Take a look at our deep dive into Netflix gaming to find out what’s going on.
Netflix makes games?
Yes, Netflix has built up a catalogue of over 70 mobile games since launching its gaming service in 2021. These games are generally optimised to play on smartphones and tablets, and, as yet, Netflix hasn’t branched into console or PC gaming. The games range from simple lightweight puzzle games like Shooting Hoops and Card Blast to adventure games like Stranger Things, involved narrative RPG games like Krispee Street, and strategy games like Heads Up and the catalogue is still growing.
Why is Netflix making games?
Well, mobile gaming aligns with Netflix’s core competencies in mobile entertainment. They already have mobile apps for streaming video, so adding games is not a huge technical leap. Games add another form of entertainment and value within the Netflix ecosystem.
Additionally, mobile gaming allows Netflix to expand their IP like Stranger Things, Squid Game etc. into new interactive formats. Games based on Netflix shows and movies can do more to drive a fandom that is impatient for the next season. However, to do that they’d be better off getting into PVP games like Fortnite and League of Legends. Find out more about PVP vs PVE here.
But the big reason that Netflix is expanding into gaming is to offer up something more for their subscription.
What’s wrong with the subscription?
Netflix has had a lot of drama with its customers concerning subscriptions lately. There has been a lot of talk around password sharing, tiered subscriptions and consistently cancelled shows that is infuriating a loud minority.
Netflix has started cracking down on password sharing between households starting in early 2023. This is to ensure only subscribed households can access Netflix. So, this means that you can no longer use your ex’s password to watch The Office and you’d need to get your own subscription. As of the end of 2023, it seems like it’s worked well for them in gaining subscriptions.
To ease the grumblings of people having to subscribe to Netflix, they introduced various ad-filled and ad-free tiers of subscriptions with different benefits like 4K+HDR resolution and more devices to download to.
However, this doesn’t help the criticism of the quality of Netflix content itself. Viewers are getting increasingly irritated by the cycle of watching a show that’s designed to entice new subscribers, and then once they’re in, the show is cancelled, leaving fans in the dark, most likely with a cliffhanger. On top of that, these Netflix originals have been criticised for going down in quality overall.
So, Netflix needs to offer something different, right? They need another reason to entice viewers to keep their subscription while expanding their own fanbase with games around high-profile names like Stranger Things and Squid Games.
What’s next for Netflix?
So, they’ve cornered mobile games, what’s next for them? Will they simply keep adding to the list of 77 games they have, or will they branch out into bigger ventures, like, say, a console game?
Well, there are already rumours and reports that Netflix has been speaking with major game developers and publishers about bringing some of their games to the Netflix platform. It has made some notable gaming-related hires recently, like an EA veteran as their new Head of External Games and a former Oculus VP as Head of VR. This type of talent could help them make a bigger push into more immersive gaming.
Conclusion
It’s unclear if Netflix wants to compete directly with major game platforms like Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox, or just offer some complementary gaming content. However, their size and resources mean they have options.
Hi! I’m Bryan, and I’m a passionate & expert writer with more than five years of experience. I have written about various topics such as product descriptions, travel, cryptocurrencies, and online gaming in my writing journey. The latter is one of my favorites topics, and you can find some of my premium casino content at OUSC.