Netflix Continues Work on Games for TVs and PCS; Game Downloads Double in Past Year
Despite all the work put into Netflix’s gaming segment, some investors have questioned the value of such an expensive foray into video games.
Netflix is determined to expand its boundaries beyond video streaming. The service has already reached the pinnacle of success amongst its peers, amassing more subscribers and a better profit margin than any of its competing streaming services.
- Mobile games that are available on smart TVs and PCs are the next step in Netflix’s gaming evolution.
- Netflix is already testing a function that allows users to turn their phones into controllers.
- Games based on popular Netflix series like “Wednesday” and “Squid Game” are coming to the platform soon.
The Wall Street Journal's Jessica Toonkel, Sarah Needleman and Sarah Krouse report that Netflix is still full speed ahead on its efforts to grow its video game segment. The company will bring its mobile games to smart TVs and PCs in the coming months, and if successful will spawn even further efforts by the company to get its users playing.
Triple-A Dreamin’
The Journal reports that Netflix is still eyeing a Triple-A game developed in-house, which will bring it on par with more dedicated game manufacturers like Activision and Electronic Arts. Word first began to circulate that Netflix wanted to develop a Triple-A game when it hired former 343 Industries executive Joseph Staten in spring of 2023.
One indication that mobile Netflix games could be headed to smart TVs soon is the fact that the company is testing mobile phone controller functionality in Canada and the United Kingdom. Users in those territories can access some Netflix games on bigger screens now, and download the controller app to turn their phone into a remote so they can take full agency over their gaming experience on any screen they choose.
While Netflix offering games on devices besides mobile phones is still in the testing phase, the company has already seen a benefit from the increased attention its games are getting. Netflix games have been downloaded 70.5 million times globally as of Sept. 2023, an increase from 30.4 million downloads as of Sept. 2022.
Is Netflix Gaming Really a Wise Investment?
There are some with a large financial stake in Netflix who believe the company would be better served by not expanding into gaming the way it is. One investor from Capital Group, which has a large stake in Netflix, expressed concerns that the gaming segment was drawing money away from its programming arm, which is more valuable by far currently.
But Netflix officials believe an expansion into gaming is crucial if the company wants to continue attracting heretofore unreached subscribers, especially as it prepares to raise prices yet again. Last year saw Netflix’s first dip in subscribers in more than a decade, and many inside the company felt that was a call to shake off complacency and refocus.
Whether an investment in gaming is a wise idea for Netflix’s future financial outlook remains to be seen. But in the next few months, users will see more games dedicated to Netflix franchises they love, including works based on “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “Black Mirror” and other series.
“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 told investors in September.
Netflix
Netflix is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 3,000+ movies, 2,000+ TV Shows, and Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Crown, Tiger King, and Bridgerton. They are constantly adding new shows and movies. Some of their Academy Award-winning exclusives include Roma, Marriage Story, Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.