With Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Apple TV+ all launching within the past couple of years, the streaming wars are harder fought than ever. Everyone is seeking out exclusive content to incentivize subscribers, and it looks like Netflix is taking things to the next level: The streamer announced plans to add video games to its offerings sometime this year.
Bloomberg News reports the company is bringing on Mike Verdu as its new vice president of game development. Previously holding roles at Electronic Inc. and Facebook’s Oculus division, Verdu will spearhead the expansion, which will see video games appearing as regular content alongside Netflix’s television series, films, and documentaries.
According to Bloomberg, the streamer doesn’t plan to charge extra for gaming as of now. Subscribers will receive access to whatever the platform releases, meaning they’ll be getting a bigger bang for their buck.
There’s no word on what kind of games Netflix plans to roll out, but it could use its wide range of original series for inspiration. With shows like The Umbrella Academy and Stranger Things in its repertoire, the streamer has plenty of source material to work with. In fact, it’s already turned some of them into video games, proving there’s interest in that particular area. It’s also experimented with choose-your-own-adventure-style programming with features like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, so video games could be a natural extension of that.
Of course, the process could just as easily work the other way around, with Netflix creating original video games and basing new shows and movies on their stories and characters. They could also license video games from other companies. The possibilities are endless, and the success of this approach will likely determine whether other streaming services decide to get into this space.
Could all streaming services soon offer things beyond movies and television series? Only time will tell, but Netflix is poised to change the game…again. The rest will depend on what kind of reception this new rollout receives.
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