A few weeks ago, Netflix announced that it would add video games as part of its services in order to provide more entertainment to its users, which undoubtedly caught the attention of millions of people in the world, because knowing how the streaming platform would land this strategy they caused great interest.
The news about his intention to reach the world of video games has been on the table for months, however, just last July 14 we reported that Netflix I would be betting on the universe of video games with the help of a former Electronic Arts and Facebook executive, who is leading this new adventure.
Is about Mike verdu, who joined Netflix as Vice President of Game Development to offer video games on the Netflix platform during the next year.
According to information from Bloomberg, the games would appear as part of a new genre of programming and will not require any extra cost, since for now they would be included in the current plans.
Stranger Things: Netflix’s first video game
Although the announcement was that the games would arrive until next year, the truth is that Netflix has already launched its first digital pieces, since on August 26 of this year, just over a month after its first official news, the giant broadcast announced to subscribers with a device Android that they could now test their gaming service.
At the moment this service is only available to Netflix subscribers living in Poland, however the released titles certainly have a reason.
There are two games available in their game library: Stranger Things: The Game 1984 and Stranger Thing: The Game 3. Both can only be played on Android devices, but apparently these are installed and played within the same Netflix app.
As previously announced, users will not have to make additional purchases or wait for in-app ads to test its functionality. However, it is important to say that the service is in “its early days”, so it is expected that little by little this service will be refined.
The service is expected to reach iOS users in the coming months.
Why these titles?
Netflix’s original movies and video games are one of the platform’s greatest treasures, as the content of a streaming platform can make a difference for users when it comes to using any of these platforms.
However, adding video games is also intended to maintain the interest of fans and attract new audiences, because according to the consultancy 7Park, 80 percent of Netflix users do not consume the original content of the company, but what is produced in other networks.
With this in mind, making Stranger Things the first title to have a video game was not a movement without planning because according to data from Netflix itself, its third installment, released in 2019, was seen in 40.7 million homes in its first four days (more than any other Netflix movie or series in the same period), and 64 million households in its first four weeks.
Likewise, the product placement executions visible in the last installment of the series reached a value of more than 15 million dollars only during the first three days of the launch of said production, according to Concave Brand Tracking, although none of these forms reported any type from income.
Betting on a series of for a recognized original series, perhaps the most successful of the platform, is a quite strategic move at a time when companies want to diversify their income and where competition is increasingly wide in all regions.
Video Games: Risky Move?
Despite the fact that a recent study by Merca2.0 placed Netflix as the favorite streaming service of consumers, something that is repeated all over the world, fewer and fewer people decide to subscribe, as indicated by its last quarter. So turning to video games seems to be the ideal alternative to innovate again, since neither Disney Plus or HBO currently offers them.
The advantage, for now, is that Netflix does not plan to raise the rates for this service, but it is clear that according to its success this could be a facilitator for these to grow in the medium or long term.
In addition, it will help boost the company’s own productions, because despite the fact that it already has movies and series with interactive versions such as Carmen Sandiego ”and“ Black Mirror ”, the impact of a video game could be much greater.
Whereas, a new study by Nielsen, cited by the Wall street journal, revealed that its original contents are not those that are encompassing the attention of subscribers. In fact, in the top 20 of shows With more visits, the company’s initiatives only span six locations. None managed to sneak into the top 5.
The main difference from its competition, which also has titles made videogames, is that these will be owned by Netflix, which would generate greater profits for the company and with it, a boost to its original content.
READ MORE