Netflix To Add Mobile Games To Its Service – What To Expect?
Big news from the entertainment world has emerged recently as popular over-the-top content service and production company, Netflix, has announced that it will be adding mobile games to its offering alongside its special premieres, movies, shows, and everything else in-between that the platform has served up since its inception as a movie rental service in 1997.
The move, which was announced to its investors via a letter, is in its infancy, but it is expected to add further layers to the popular streaming platform and tempt more users into its service as a result. In the letter, Netflix said: “The time is right to learn more about how our members value games.” It’s understandable that Netflix would like to go down this avenue, given the huge rise in gaming revenue over the last few years.
The company aims to improve on a year which has seen a dip in its subscriptions. As a result, Netflix bosses are hoping to win more people over with a variety of games and improve both retention and engagement, as independent telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore points out. Pescatore spoke of the huge commitment and financial resources that Netflix would have to put into play if the company is to conquer the gaming world, but he also pointed out that this would be a long-term play for the streaming giant. In short, don’t expect your Netflix subscription to rival PlayStation Plus or Stadia overnight.
Netflix profits in the spotlight
Skeptics point towards the company’s revenues, which were 19% higher than the year before after coming in at $7.3bn. Profits did dip to $1.35bn, down from $1.7bn the previous quarter, but Netflix is a streaming service that is still very much the dominant force in the space. A move into the mobile gaming world is therefore hard to fathom for some, although it’s also incredibly exciting for others.
We are still not fully clear on the types of games we can expect to see on the platform, although with former Oculus and EA Exec Mike Verdu joining the company, Netflix is clearly gearing up for a big push. Endless runner releases, role-playing titles, puzzle creations, battle royale products, and a whole more has essentially led to Netflix wanting a slice of the pie. From Pokemon to PUBG to fantastical Greek-themed slots all aspects of mobile gaming are booming. It’s no secret. In Norway, online casino players love Netflix as much as they love https://norskecasinoportal.
This plan comes after Netflix added the likes of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Carmen Sandiego to its catalog as they attempted to tempt gamers with a range of interactive challenges which were well received by its millions of subscribers overall. Clearly encouraged by what they saw, bosses at the California-based giant examined the options of adding smartphone games to its service.
Netflix could be in the perfect position
The fact mobile gamers use their devices to play a selection of titles while out and about will enable Netflix to attract new customers, especially if the service is offering unique games that can’t be sampled anywhere else. Smartphone gaming is convenient and easy to do, and it’s an entertainment option that can be picked up and put down throughout the day. The same doesn’t necessarily apply to movies and television shows which are generally best enjoyed on a bigger screen. As such, should the company get it right, it could open up an even bigger customer base and allow the brand to dominate its rivals.
In the letter to its investors, Netflix ended by saying: “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.”