Netflix expands gaming service with hit shows

Published: October 19, 2023

Netflix expands gaming service with hit shows

By Movieguide® Contributor

Netflix hopes it can attract more users to the gaming side of the platform by turning more well-known IPs into games.

According to the Wall Street Journal. Netflix is ​​currently working on Turning SQUID GAME and WEDNESDAY into games for its subscribers, with plans for EXTRACTION and BLACK MIRROR games later.

These titles will join LOVE IS BLIND and THE QUEENS GAMBIT in Netflix’s game library, which has amassed more than 70 titles since its launch at the end of 2020.

some Estimate reports Less than 1 percent of Netflix subscribers interact with the platform’s games on a daily basis. This statistic is alarming as the company spent Nearly $1 billion on its gaming service Until now. With the addition of recognizable IP addresses, the platform hopes to attract more interest from the 99 percent who have yet to try the service.

Although the gaming service has not yet taken off, the company never expected a quick recovery from its subscribers. Similar to The New York Times, which has millions of daily users of its website games like Wordle and Spelling Bee, Netflix aims to cater to non-gamers with casual games.

As Movieguide® previously reported, the company also revealed its plans to bring its games to TVs by turning a user’s phone into a virtual console:

“We’ve been focused on creating a great gaming experience for our members since 2020 when we added mobile gaming to Netflix.” He said In a blog post. “Our goal has always been to provide a game for everyone, and we work hard to meet members where they are with a service that is accessible, seamless and ubiquitous.”

“Today, we’re taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix — TVs, computers, and mobile phones,” the post continued.

Netflix Launched An app that allows people to use their smartphones as a controller, enabling gamers to stream games on more than just mobile devices. For those who want to play games on PC and Mac, they have also added keyboard and mouse compatibility.

Despite the decline in subscriber engagement, Netflix remains optimistic that its gaming service will become a valuable asset to the core business.

“We know we’re not going away… because one day we’ll be everywhere with games across all the devices we serve,” Greg Peters, Netflix co-CEO He said in September.

Movieguide® previously reported:

“Oxenfree II: Lost Signals” and “The Queen’s Gambit Chess” reveal that Netflix is ​​still unsure about its gaming platform two years after its initial launch, but wants to keep developers at the center.

After a slow start, Night School was acquired by Netflix, and the makers of supernatural indie games had a huge hit with Oxenfree, signaling to their fans that they wanted to offer a library of quality games.

This formula has been a major part of the first phase of Netflix games development. They acquire the rights to already popular games to entice users to explore their gaming service. However, until recently, these studios developed only a few games after starting their partnership with Netflix.

The Night School sequel to Oxenfree, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, reveals the direction the console is heading.

“Oxenfree II” was released to critical acclaim, something that game director Bryant Cannon believes is due to the company’s partnership with Netflix.