The company’s intention is to repeat the same success as its streaming platform. At the moment, there is no correct date for the big launch, but it is foreseen for the end of 2022. This expansion into games does not mean that the American company will reduce the focus of its movie and series productions. Everything will continue as it is normally. This aspect adds products to the brand. Check out all the news in this article!
Focus on mobile games
In July of this year, Netflix had confirmed that it would initially focus on cell phones as a target platform for its games. The company also confirmed that the games would come as a bonus category under Netflix’s existing subscription (no extra charge). In a letter to shareholders, Netflix wrote: “We’re excited as ever about our movies and TV series offering, and we expect a long runway of increasing investment and growth across all of our existing content categories, but since we are nearly a decade into our push into original programming, we think the time is right to learn more about how our members value games.”
Why is Netflix getting interested in games?
Looking at the streaming giant’s recent numbers,, the growth of its user base has stalled, prompting a decision to enter the gaming market, thus emerging as a new strategy for Netflix to attract new subscribers. In 2019, Netflix emphasized the growing importance of games in a letter to shareholders. The company revealed that while it led its competitors in terms of screen time, it was losing to Fortnite, the popular online multiplayer game. “We competed (and lost) to Fortnite more than to HBO,” they stated emphatically in the letter. By directly entering the gaming industry, Netflix can better compete with games that are popular in the market, such as GTA Online, PUBG, and League of Legends.
Will the service be free?
It has been reported that Netflix will not charge customers separately for its games, so the combination of video content and game content will have the same subscription price. However, it is important to note that this may be a strategy that has been common among new subscription services. Initially, they start for free, and as soon as their user base grows enough, they introduce a charge. So it wouldn’t be impossible to assume that Netflix could also do the same and eventually start charging separately for the gaming service.
What types of games are available on Netflix?
Despite not having a section dedicated to games, the platform is not foreign to the genre. This is because the company had previously collaborated with a game developer to adapt its famous series, Stranger Things. In addition, Netflix has already explored the gray area that lies between movies and games. The platform has released shows that fall under the category of “interactive movies” such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. For those who don’t know, interactive movies are a kind of movie-game fusion, where the development of the movie happens based on the player’s choices. So there’s a big chance that Netflix will focus on interactive movie games based on their productions. In addition, the service may also offer games similar to Stranger Things game. Looking at how Netflix has published games made by independent developers before, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some independent games on the platform.
How to access the platform
The games, some of which are based on the streaming company’s productions, are bundled with their existing subscription service. You can easily access these games through the Netflix app on your smartphone or tablet. These titles are not only free to all Netflix users, but they also have no ads or in-app purchases. Also, not all of them require an active internet connection to play. As of now, the games available on the platform are Stranger Things 3: The Game, Stranger Things: 1984, Card Blast, Shooting Hoops, and Teeter Up. If you have an active Netflix subscription, you can try the game right away. See how to play Netflix on your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet down below:
Open Netflix and log into your account; On your smartphone, navigate to the bottom of the screen and tap the icon symbolized by a video game controller; If you’re using a tablet, you can also access it from the Categories drop-down menu; From the available games, select your favorite game and tap “Download game”; Allow Netflix to download the games from the Play Store or App Store; Once the game is installed, choose your Netflix profile (which shouldn’t be a child profile) and enter your PIN, if you have one.
Where is it available?
Initially, the platform was released only for countries in Europe, but it is already available for Brazil and many other countries around the world. The games are exclusively available on Netflix and an important detail is that the games will automatically use the default language selected in your account, and when a certain language is not supported, the games will switch to English. As you might have guessed, these games don’t exactly work within the Netflix app, and instead the latter acts as a portal for these titles. In the future, the streaming giant plans to deliver a diverse range of games for every type of player. In the words of the head of development at Netflix Games, Mike Verdu, Netflix wants to “design games for any level of the game and every type of player, whether you are a novice or an experienced gamer”.
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