While Netflix is losing a lot of subscribers in the recent past due to various reasons, it seems like the streaming service is getting serious about tapping the demographic of video game players.
Towards the end of 2021, the streamer casually dallied into the realm of video games, offering a small collection of mobile games to its subscribers. However, Netflix is allegedly looking to ramp up its gaming selection and offer up to 50 titles to its users by the end of 2022.
After launching their infant video game service in November 2021, Netflix subscribers had an access to five games as a part of their membership. Currently, Netflix is offering 18 games to subscribers and will add nearly 30 more by the end of this year.
However, the platform has not yet indicated the kind of titles they are looking to add. While they wanted to stick to mobile games “for now”, it is evident that Netflix will be venturing into various other genres soon, given its recent acquisition of three major game studios. A trusted source has confirmed the same, saying that Netflix is on the prowl for “content opportunities around video games from every direction”.
These studios include Texas-based mobile game developer Boss Fight Entertainment, Oxenfree developer Night School Studio and the creator of Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales game, Next Games.
Netflix has already struck a chord with the gaming demographic by successfully adapting some well-known games into major shows, including The Witcher, DOTA, Castlevania, The Cuphead Show, League of Legends etc. With The Witcher universe, in particular, the streamer has been extremely successful and is looking to expand it in form of films, shows and spin-offs.
Netflix’s central ethos is to “build out a games business that can create synergy between what people watch and what they’re playing.” As of now, Netflix is busy adapting the popular card game Exploding Kittens into a game that will launch on the streamer next month, before being adapted into a 2023 animated show.
Stay tuned in for more updates regarding Netflix’s tryst with the gaming world.
