It's official: Netflix is getting into games, starting with mobile

It'south official: Netflix is getting into games, starting with mobile

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Netflix has confirmed that information technology'due south entering the gaming business — and it will start past offer gratuitous mobile games to subscribers.

Rumors had been rife that the streaming behemothic was poised to move into gaming, and information technology finally revealed the first details effectually its plans in its Q2 earnings written report. While not giving everything away, Netflix announced that it will focus on mobile gaming to start with, a move that will see it go head-to-head with Apple and Google, amongst others.

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In the written report, Netflix said that it was "in the early on stages of further expanding into games, building on our earlier efforts effectually interactivity (eg, Blackness Mirror Bandersnatch) and our Stranger Things games."

"Nosotros view gaming equally some other new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, blitheness and unscripted TV, " the report continued. "Games will be included in members' Netflix subscription at no additional cost like to films and series."

The fact that Netflix is starting out with mobile titles, and that it specifically referenced the Stranger Things game, gives us some thought of what we tin expect. In a presentation on the report, Netflix COO Greg Peters added that its vast banking concern of original content will provide a fertile ground for games.

"We are in the business of making these amazing worlds and great storylines and incredible characters, and nosotros know the fans of those stories want to go deeper, they want to engage further," Peters said.

Peters also stated that the games will exist ad-complimentary and would non incorporate in-app purchases — a motion that will no doubt delight many mobile gamers.

"We also feel that our subscription model yields some opportunities to focus on a ready of game experiences currently underserved by the ascendant monetization models in games," Peters said. "We don't have to recollect almost ads, we don't have to call back almost in-game purchases or other monetization, we don't have to think virtually other per-title purchases."

While mobile games volition be Netflix'south initial focus, Peters also revealed that console games could make it in the future, stating that "Ultimately, we see all of the devices that nosotros currently serve as candidates for some kind of game experience." Given that the Netflix app is available on everything from the PS5 and Xbox Serial X to a multitude of TVs and the best streaming devices, that leaves plenty of room for expansion.

According to previous reports, Netflix has hired former Oculus and EA executive Mike Verdu to oversee its gaming partitioning, merely otherwise info had been thin on the ground until now.

We still don't know when the starting time games will make it, only a recent Bloomberg report suggested that it could be within the next year.

Nor is it entirely clear how Netflix will distribute these games. Bloomberg's initial report claimed they would be available in the Netflix app aslope its existing portfolio of movies and Television receiver shows, merely there's no item yet virtually whether games will be streamed or downloaded from an app store.

There'southward still much that Netflix needs to clarify, then, but we aren't likely to get whatsoever answers for a while yet. So instead, sit tight and savor the best Netflix shows and TV series already bachelor.

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Tom is the Tom'southward Guide's Automotive Editor, which ways he can ordinarily be plant genu deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo Great britain, when pretty much everything was on the table. He'southward ordinarily institute trying to squeeze some other giant Lego set up onto the shelf, draining very large cups of java, or lament that Ikea won't let him purchase the stuff he really needs online.