It’s been two years since
Netflix
introduced games to the streaming platform, and since then, these games have been free, given you are paying for subscription. But that could change soon, as the streaming giant plans to churn in more money from its gaming venture.
Netflix has been in discussions, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, “internally,” about strategies to monetize its games for several months. Some of the options include in-app purchases, charging a premium for higher-quality titles, and displaying ads on games that are available to subscribers under the ad tier.
During an earnings call in April 2023, Netflix said that it has no plans for introducing ads or in-game purchases. According to Netflix co-CEO
Greg Peters
, the company wants to provide a unique gaming experience that prioritises player enjoyment. Therefore, the focus is on allowing game creators to build games without worrying about other forms of monetization.
“We want to have a differentiated gaming experience and part of that is giving game creators the ability to think about building games purely from the perspective of player enjoyment and not having to worry about other forms of monetization, whether it be ads or in-game payment,” Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters told investors.
Netflix has over 90 games in development
Since its foray into the gaming business, Netflix has released a total of 86 games, out of which 40 were released last year. These include two in-house developed titles, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals and Netflix Stories: Love is Blind, as well as licensed titles such as Football Manager 24 Mobile, Storyteller, and
Grand Theft Auto
: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, released last month.
Netflix has already started developing around 90 new games, and many of these are based on its original programming. A game set in the
Squid Games
universe is on the roster, where players will be able to compete with each other in various games featured in the show. Then, Netflix is collaborating with Super Evil Megacorp on a Rebel Moon video game.
The Money Heist
: Ultimate Choice, announced last month at the Geeked Week, is set to release this month.
Netflix is also reportedly developing a high-budget PC game, which could be a costly endeavour. So, the company is also considering charging for the game.
The streaming platform is expected to have spent $1 billion dollar on its gaming division, acquiring studios, IPs and developing new projects.
English (US) ·