Netflix Gives Its Gaming Plans Another Boost
Almost a year has passed since Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) released its first mobile games. From its humble beginnings with only five games, today’s lineup features thirty-five distinct experiences, from casual puzzlers and board games to adrenaline-pumping racing and in-depth adventures.
Netflix Gives Its Gaming Plans Another Boost
But the streaming giant has far bigger plans for the game industry. The gaming division is scooping up developer firms, and the corporation already has 55 games in development. Example: Netflix just last week acquired Spry Fox, developer of kid-friendly games including Cozy Grove and the Alphabear series.
Netflix Gives Its Gaming Plans Another Boost
After acquiring Spry Fox, Netflix now has a hand in developing games for six different platforms. Although Netflix has not slowed down its study of the gaming market, investors and fans may be focused on the ad-supported streaming service and the imminent suppression of password-sharing users.
The Spry Fox purchase raises the question: what does Netflix’s future hold for its mobile-gaming concept, and how does it relate to the company’s overall strategy?
Netflix Gives Its Gaming Plans Another Boost
Netflix bingeing and gaming
Netflix has always had lofty goals for the video gaming industry. Similar to our television shows, movies, and specials, we wish to create games that are accessible to gamers of all skill levels and backgrounds on their respective release dates (November 2, 2021).
Netflix’s ultimate goal is to become the “Netflix” of video games. Why not use your most successful products as a starting point when designing for your next target audience?
The business has released dozens of games spanning many different genres and design aesthetics. Netflix has invested heavily in two new studios while buying four smaller ones. Mike Verdu, formerly of Meta Platforms’ virtual reality section, is the vice president of the gaming arm and will be overseeing this initiative.
Netflix Gives Its Gaming Plans Another Boost
The Netflix gaming approach reminds me of the company’s first foray into online video distribution. Just like Netflix itself, Netflix games began as a no-cost extra for paying customers. Moreover, the early streaming library was not spectacular, with just a small number of titles available and an uncomfortable variety of supported hardware systems. Similarly, the gaming initiative is quite modest at the moment, with third-party sources indicating that less than one percent of the company’s video-streaming subscribers have actually engaged with any of the games to yet.
However, there are a few key distinctions in this case. Netflix pioneered the online video streaming industry. The startup confronts stiff competition from an established industry of mobile gaming experts. In addition to coming late to a market that was already well established, Netflix has also made some peculiar aesthetic decisions.
Netflix Gives Its Gaming Plans Another Boost
I don’t like how complicated it is to get Netflix games via the regular Android or iOS app stores, for instance. Though I have no doubt it will become better with time, at now the procedure is not the breeze I’ve come to anticipate from a Netflix product.
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