The platform wants to double the number of games in its catalog by the end of 2022 and will offer several games from its most popular series.
A little over seven months ago, Netflix officially launched its gaming offer in France on Android and iOS. If the catalog of games initially included only a handful of titles, Netflix has discreetly expanded it over the months. Subscribers to the service can now enjoy 23 games without additional advertising, and playable at no additional cost.
By the end of 2022, the SVOD giant plans to double the number of titles available in its catalog. It is thus preparing for the arrival of several games from its most popular series, such as Le jeu de la dame or Casa de papel. But, if Netflix remains relatively discreet about the future of its gaming offer, the firm, which always seems to be evolving in a test phase, seems to have great ambitions in this area.
Netflix wants to solidify its offer and convert new players
Interviewed during the Tribeca film festival in New York, Leanne Loombe, the head of external games at Netflix indicated that the platform wanted to take its time to solidify its offer.
“We started in November last year, so only a handful of months and we intentionally keep a low profile because we’re learning, experimenting, always trying to figure out what our members will like, what games people want to play. . she said.
She also explained that over the past few months, the platform has been experimenting with new ways to introduce the games to its subscribers. Currently, users can access the games catalog within a dedicated tab on Android, while the platform has opted for a carousel on iOS.
“We want to make sure there’s a game on Netflix for every one of our members, whether it’s someone who plays every day, someone new to gaming, or someone who wants to give it a try. something like Netflix, ”said the American giant’s games manager.
To achieve this, the platform wants to offer accessible games that appeal to a wide audience and that people can start playing quickly. And what better than mobile platforms to get started.
“Starting with mobile is a really good way for us to make sure we can get games into people’s hands easily and remove some of the friction that may exist on other platforms. explained Leanne Loombe.
Gaming to limit the loss of income
If Netflix is taking its time to consolidate its offer, it is also and above all that the platform sees gaming as a way to retain its subscribers. Because for the first time in ten years, Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers worldwide during the first quarter of 2022.
“It’s still very, very new, but one of the things we want to do is make sure games are a really valuable part of our members’ membership,” Netflix’s head of games noted.
If Netflix’s ambition in gaming is quite laudable, it is quite difficult to imagine that subscribers stay on the platform for the video games it offers. The platform seems to have a hard time accepting that the successive increases it has imposed (especially with regard to account sharing) have ended up tiring its users. Especially since its offer, which is too complex, consists of three separate subscriptions when Disney+, Amazon Prime Video or even Apple TV+ strive to offer a single, simpler, clearer and much more permissive offer.
Source :
variety