Netflix to Expand Gaming Service Through Hit Shows
By Movieguide® Contributor
Netflix is hoping that it can attract more users to the gaming side of the platform by turning more of its recognizable 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 down the road.
These titles would join LOVE IS BLIND and THE QUEENS GAMBIT on Netflix’s game library, which has amassed over 70 titles since it launched at the end of 2020.
Some reports estimate that less than 1 percent of Netflix subscribers interact with the platform’s games on a daily basis. This statistic is troubling as the company has spent roughly $1 billion on its gaming service so far. With the addition of recognizable IPs, the platform hopes to drum up more interest from the 99 percent yet to try out the service.
While the gaming service has yet to take off, the company never expected a quick pickup from its subscribers. Similar to the New York Times, which has millions of daily users on its website’s games, such as Wordle and Spelling Bee, Netflix aims to cater to non-gamers through casual games.
As Movieguide® previously reported, the company has also revealed its plans to bring its games to TVs by turning a user’s phone into a virtual controller:
“We’ve been focused on creating a great gaming experience for our members since 2020 when we added mobile games to Netflix,” the company said in a blog post. “Our goal has always been to have a game for everyone, and we are working hard to meet members where they are with an accessible, smooth, and ubiquitous service.”
“Today, we’re taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix – TVs, computers, and mobile,” the post continued.
Netflix launched an app that allows people to use their smartphones as a controller, enabling players 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 low subscriber engagement, Netflix remains optimistic that its gaming service will become a valuable asset at the core of the business.
“We know we’re not going away…because someday we’re going to be everywhere with games across all devices that we serve,” Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters 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 they want to keep developers at the center.
After a slow start, Netflix acquired Night School, the makers of supernatural indie hit Oxenfree, signaling to their audience that they wanted to deliver a library of high-quality games.
This formula has been a major part of the first stage of Netflix’s game development. They acquire the rights to already popular games to entice users to explore their gaming service. However, until recently, these studios had developed few games after beginning their partnership with Netflix.
Night School’s sequel to “Oxenfree,” “Oxenfree II: Lost Signals,” reveals where the gaming platform is headed.
“Oxenfree II” was released to critical acclaim, something game director Bryant Cannon believes is due to the company’s partnership with Netflix.
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