In a move that is sure to shake up the video game industry, streaming giant Netflix has announced that it is opening its own video game studio. The new studio, which will be based in Finland, will be focused on developing games based on Netflix’s existing IP, with the goal of creating “interactive adventures” that can be enjoyed by gamers and non-gamers alike.
This is not Netflix’s first foray into the world of gaming; the company has previously released two games based on its hit series Stranger Things, and it has also produced a choose-your-own-adventure style episode of Black Mirror. However, this is the first time that Netflix has dedicated an entire studio to developing video games. Given the success of its other ventures into gaming, it seems likely that this latest pivot will pay off handsomely for the company.
The announcement follows a challenging year for Netflix, which reported losing members for the first time in more than ten years and had its stock fall more than 60% in 2022 amid a general market collapse. According to a blog post by Netflix’s VP of Game Studios, Marko Lastikka, a seasoned executive from gaming behemoths Zynga and Electronic Arts, will lead the new game firm.
Rahimi said: “This is another step in our aim to develop a world-class games studio that will provide a variety of delightful and intensely engaging unique games to our hundreds of millions of users around the world — with no adverts and no in-app payments.” Helsinki is “home to some of the top game talent in the world,” he continued, explaining why it was picked as the location for the new studio.
With Monday’s announcement, Netflix now has four gaming studios in total. The business had already purchased Night School Studio and Boss Fight Entertainment in addition to Next Games. A little more than a year has passed since Netflix Games went online. Currently, the world has downloaded 32 games from the streaming giant a total of 30 million times.
While not yet accessible on other consoles, Netflix games can be downloaded and played on mobile devices such as Android smartphones and tablets as well as iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
According to Apptopia data, 1.63 million users played Netflix games every single day in the previous month. This amount only accounts for a minor portion of the 220 million paying customers of the corporation.
What Does This Mean for the Video Game Industry?
The news of Netflix’s foray into game development will no doubt come as a shock to many in the industry. For years, Netflix has been content to licensing its IP to third-party developers, so the fact that it is now getting into game development itself suggests that the company sees major potential in the gaming market. This move will no doubt further increase competition in an already crowded marketplace, but it could also lead to some interesting collaborations between Netflix and other developers. Only time will tell how this latest development will impact the video game industry as a whole.
It remains to be seen how successful Netflix’s strike into game development will be, but there’s no doubt that the company is serious about making a mark in the gaming world. With its deep pockets and massive user base, Netflix has all the ingredients necessary to shake up the video game industry in a big way. Only time will tell how this latest development will impact the landscape of gaming as we know it.
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