Netflix recently closed its in-house video game studio “Blue”. Games have been part of the Netflix offering since 2021. Aside from the prospect of additional sales, there are other reasons why games from the “Grand Theft Auto” series, among others, are available on the streaming service.
Years ago, Netflix set out to expand its influence on the video game market. Since 2021, the streaming service has also been offering games as a subscription at no additional cost. The company was optimistic about its plans, but now Netflix has suffered a setback in its own ambitions.
Before the first release: Netflix closes studio
Netflix's games section offers various titles based on its own successful series such as “Stranger Things”, “Emily in Paris” and “Money Heist”. However, Netflix had even more plans and founded the “Blue” studio in 2022. But this was now closed again before it could bring a single game onto the market.
The Blue studio was apparently busy developing a AAA game. This suggests that Netflix was willing to invest heavily in marketing and development. In April 2023, a well-known author from the industry announced that the studio had recently closed, the service did not name. The closure could mean an end to Netflix's larger gaming ambitions, speculates the tech portal “The Verge”.
Billionaire gaming market: Why is Netflix entering this sector?
There are a few reasons why Netflix decided to expand its offerings to include video games in 2021. “We believe we will get through [Spiele] “We can deliver more entertainment value,” said Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix, according to a “CNBC” report. This could be a big attraction for users. Films, series and games can be found under one roof – in the same subscription.
For Netflix itself, this represents an opportunity to strengthen the brand. Various games on the platform are based on in-house brands. By expanding its series into other media, Netflix can maintain the relevance of its brands for longer and perhaps increase interest in them.
The expected sales are certainly another incentive. The video game industry is a gigantic sales market. The industry's sales are estimated to have recently increased to around 187.7 billion US dollars, reported the market research company “Newzoo”. Given this economic outlook, it's no wonder that Netflix wants to get in on the action.
However, so far this venture appears to have had little success. According to a report by the industry magazine “Gamesindustry.biz” from the end of 2023, less than one percent of Netflix subscribers used the opportunity to play games on the service every day. The number of players in September 2023 was around 2.2 million users – with around 247 million subscribers at the time.
From classics to indie: “Grand Theft Auto” and many more games on Netflix
With “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” Netflix has an iconic title in its range of games. According to Mobilegamer.biz, games have been downloaded from Netflix more than 210 million times, with this title accounting for around 25 million downloads. With “Grand Theft Auto 3” and “Vice City,” the entire “The Trilogy” is included.
In addition, Netflix has acquired a number of high-profile titles in recent months and years, including the strategy game “Into the Breach”, roguelikes such as “Dead Cells” and “Hades” and the melancholic city-building simulation “Spiritfarer”. Video game icons like Sonic, Lara Croft and the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” also have games on Netflix. Even for football fans there is a suitable game with the “Football Manager 2024 Mobile”.
From (ada/ki/spot)
