Netflix is considering adding video games to its streaming library in the coming year
Netflix is considering adding video games to its streaming library in the coming year
Netflix may expand beyond the best movies and television shows in the next year to include video games in its catalog, according to a new Bloomberg report. The company has hired a former EA and Facebook executive to execute the plan.
Netflix will treat games as a distinct genre of content, similar to how it treated documentaries and other genres. It is unknown whether the streaming company will offer existing games or create entirely new ones – but, as Bloomberg noted, job listings for game development-related positions have appeared on Netflix's website, including this one for a product innovation director to create interactive content similar to Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
According to the report, the executive tasked with leading this endeavor has extensive experience in gaming. Mike Verdu will be Netflix's VP of game development. He previously worked at Facebook as a VP focused on content for the Oculus platforms, at EA on mobile games for the Sims, Plants vs. Zombies, and Star Wars franchises, and at Zynga as chief creative officer during the FarmVille era.
In other words, Netflix has hired an executive with experience in non-traditional gaming platforms, and we're curious about the type of content he'll cultivate at the company – which, according to Bloomberg, will expand its gaming team in the coming months.
Netflix and gaming? Pros and cons
Netflix appears to be eyeing gaming as a new source of content to bolster its catalog and differentiate itself from competitors like HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video. Apple does, through Apple Arcade, which is distinct from the Apple TV Plus streaming service.
While Netflix is not expected to increase subscription rates in the coming year as a result of the addition of gaming content, the company could use the addition to justify a price increase.
The other question is whether Apple and Google would object to Netflix including gaming content in its subscription service, given their respective restrictions on iOS and Android apps for game streaming services – both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's xCloud technology and Amazon Luna require players to use browser workarounds to access them on smartphones.
However, given how little information we have about the actual content of Netflix's games, they may escape such scrutiny.
