We have new updates on Netflix’s game development plans and you may or may not be surprised to know that we’re a tad more excited about these than we have been about their recent original releases. When Netflix launched its mobile gaming services in 2021, everyone was slightly confused about this new direction by the streaming giant that admittedly already dominated one industry. Since then, the company’s gaming catalog has grown quite significantly but there are still a large number of subscribers who aren’t aware that they have free access to these games.
The Netflix gaming news in 2021 had originally arrived with a list of five games—Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Card Blast, Teeter Up, and Shooting Hoops. Two of these were an obvious derivative of their original TV series Stranger Things, but the other games bringing up the rear brought some standard mobile gaming experiences to its subscribers. Since then, their catalog has expanded significantly.
Image: The Case of the Golden Idol is a 2022 game that was original released for PC but was is now available to play on mobile for Netflix subscribers.
Streaming Just Isn’t Enough—Netflix’s Game Development Plan Expand to 80 New Titles
In a recent earnings call, Netflix co-CEO, president, and director Gregory K Peters went over the company’s plans to launch new Netflix games in the coming months, with 80 titles in production currently. The games under development will reportedly be released one at a time each month, giving its users something to look forward to with every turn of the calendar.
The new Netflix games are likely to begin with a wider collection of interactive narrative games inspired by series like Emily In Paris and Selling Sunset, but there should be a range of games like The Dragon Prince: Xadia, Lab Rat, and Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure, that brings more unique gameplay experiences for everyone. A large number of the games are being developed in association with content that is available to stream on the platform, but some of the other new Netflix games appear designed to appeal to a wider audience who may not be particularly wowed by the company’s TV series and movies.
It’s a good strategy, especially considering how much of Netflix’s original content has taken on cookie-cutter strategies to rehash content that already exists and on one asked for. For every Baby Reindeer and Arcane success story that gains popularity, there are a dozen other Emily in Paris and Tall Girl-esque shows and movies that no one wants.
A large number of the shows that become popular on Netflix find their fame through their unlimited marketing and our tendency to popularize its content even before release, in addition, the shows that are good often get canceled almost instantly. To distract yourself from the tragedy of it all, you may want to turn your attention to Netflix’s game development plans and the other forms of entertainment the company has been busy churning out.
Image: Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit was released on June 25.
Netflix Gaming News Suggests You’re Missing Out on Using Your Subscription to Its Full Potential
Netflix’s game development plans make it quite clear that it is pursuing its future in gaming in full swing. Back in August 2023, the company began testing the viability of shifting away from mobile-only gaming by testing its cloud-streamed games that would allow you to use the web or your TV screen to play.
The service is still in beta testing mode in Canada, the U.S., Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and the UK, and it allows users to play Netflix games on select TV devices. Around nine titles are currently available and they include the likes of Oxenfree, a supernatural adventure game, and Link Twin, a puzzle game. These games are already available to play on Steam, but if you have a Netflix account, it becomes a free-to-play experience instead.
Understanding the Ecosystem of Netflix’s Game Launches
Instead of creating new Netflix games exclusively in-house with direct links to existing streaming content, the company has also acquired other companies and adopted some of their titles. The company acquired game dev company Spry Fox and took on their Cozy Grove game, so when the sequel was launched, it became an exclusive Netflix game. The company had previously brought in other studios like Night School Studio and Next Games.
Netflix’s game development plans also include an Assassin’s Creed Game in partnership with Ubisoft to support the live-action show that’s coming to the platform. A Lord of the Rings Hobbit-inspired farming simulator game, Tales of the Shire, is expected to release sometime in 2024 as well. If all that wasn’t enough, we happened upon a Netflix and GTA collaboration before GTA 6. Netflix subscribers can experience GTA III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas on their smartphones if they so desire. It really is the whole package.
Image: Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings game that’s coming soon.
Netflix Isn’t the Only Company Launching Games
Netflix’s game development plans are interesting but it isn’t the only company experimenting with adding games to its roster. After Crunchyroll merged with Funimation, it introduced its own game vault in 2023, bringing in a collection of titles for its more premium subscribers. Social networking platform LinkedIn has also introduced three free games of its own. More games means regular logins and more frequent interactions with the platform so we see the appeal.
It’s a good strategy and it has likely helped Netflix to some degree to motivate such large-scale investment in their game development plans. Ultimately, if you haven’t already tried the Netflix games out, you might as well go ahead and make full use of the subscription you’re paying for anyway.
