Netflix is a dominant company in the on-demand media industry. It is a successful platform with more than 167 million subscribers. It was launched in 1997 and soon became a renowned company. Netflix has revolutionized streaming video by using streaming video data to recommend what a person should watch and to guide original content production. With increasing popularity, it has repressed paid cable services. Today, almost every other house has access to Netflix. Recently, Netflix has taken a big step towards its gaming ambitions. Therefore, this company has announced the development of Netflix games as individual apps. These games are easily available for Android and iOs users. Gaming has gone mainstream and Netflix will likely force it to evolve even more. This has been a well-calculated decision by the company because of the increased interest of people in the gaming world.

The games will be bundled for free into Netflix's main app. Initially, the games are meant to be played on mobile devices, but they may eventually migrate to TVs. The company believes that in this way games will connect in some way to Netflix-owned franchises. The company thinks the main value of its games will be in keeping existing subscribers more engaged in the Netflix app. Therefore, there are chances that ‌subscribers will not unsubscribe. The games could also, in theory, help drive new subscriptions.

The Beginning

Netflix was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in 1997. Initially, it provided online subscription services to ‌customers. The customers' selected show titles from Netflix's website and then they were mailed with shows, in the form of DVDs. Each customer was mailed according to the subscription plan they had already selected. With time this company made more changes and hired other people. Soon, people were allowed to access shows at their homes through the internet. To enable its videos to be streamed over an Internet connection to different devices, Netflix subsequently partnered with manufacturers of various consumer electronics products.

Netflix then expanded beyond the United States by offering the streaming-only plan in Canada in 2010; in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2011; and in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Scandinavia in 2012. By 2016, its streaming service was available in more than 190 countries and territories. The streaming services of Netflix became the biggest revenue generator. The company then jumped on to the riskiest step and that was creating movie content on their own. The original Netflix shows became a hit and developed a trend of binge-watching across the world. Netflix is essentially a storehouse of content, including movies, documentaries, and television series. For a flat monthly fee, subscribers can consume any program at any time on whatever device they prefer. The trend of cable services has been content being replaced by Netflix. Therefore, it has influenced the TV industry. Now, Netflix has entered the gaming world as well.

Recently, Netflix announced the launch of the first five games on the mobile as individual apps. These games included Stranger Things: 1984 (BonusXP), Stranger Things 3: The Game (BonusXP), Shooting Hoops (Frosty Pop), Card Blast (Amuzo & Rogue Games), and Teeter Up (Frosty Pop). There were no additional fees charged. Moreover, Netflix ensured no interruption by the ads. Users will be able to play multiple devices on the same account. In addition, some games will be available offline. Eventually, Netflix games could spawn Netflix films or series, creating a virtuous cycle.

Netflix Games

With time, the gaming industry has also evolved. Smartphones have already dominated the world. Therefore, games are readily available on smartphones. The interest of people in the gaming world is increasing day by day. To gain maximum consumer interest, Netflix has launched game apps that are easily available on android and ios devices. There are many reasons behind this transition by the company. The main reason, however, is to increase the number of people subscribing to Netflix.

Netflix sees gaming as a big part of its future in the battle for consumer attention. In July, the company hired Mike Verdu to head a new gaming division. Verdu has a lot of gaming cred. Verdu has the experience and served as vice president of augmented reality and virtual reality content at Facebook. He was the former head of Electronic Arts' mobile gaming division. Furthermore, after ‌ laborious work by Verdu, Netflix was able to launch these game apps. Initially, only a few games were launched and skyrocketed in a small period.

Netflix has an advantage over small studios and independent game developers because of the large number of people that have already subscribed. The marketing campaigns for these games are dwindling for Netflix as compared to other game developers. Netflix's subscription model means it controls the user experience and doesn't have to rely on ads or in-app purchases for its revenue stream. Entering the gaming world is a challenge for others, but it can create other opportunities. If Netflix starts to gain popularity in the gaming market, then developers would create more innovations, to stay a step ahead. If developers want to compete, then innovation is a good thing.

Impact of Netflix Gaming apps

Netflix is hooking subscribers by mixing gaming into its gargantuan library of content. The company is using a markedly different strategy by making it a huge power play. These games are available to any person having an account. The best part is that these games are without any ads. Moreover, the company has strong data analysis that helps them in providing the best gaming platform services. Since the launch of these apps, more people have subscribed to Netflix. Young people are getting involved in these apps, giving a good sign to Netflix's gaming future.

The Path of Collaboration

Netflix believes in the path of collaboration with other game developers. Verdu's decisions depicted that he wanted a collaborative relationship with different game developers. In this way, the developers would get more audience who could use gaming facilities that are created outside Netflix's domain. Eventually, more people would get added to Netflix's library. Incredible experiences could be made by promoting developers to improve. The developers would delve into the quest of developing more interactive and prominent elements in the games. Therefore, the gaming industry will evolve into a better version.

Entering into the gaming world will bring many challenges for Netflix. These challenges seem small because Netflix has already made previous transitions successful in the past few years. However, it has created an atmosphere of competition among rival companies. Gaming companies succeed when they meet the expectations of users. It is vital to gain users' interest in the areas of gaming. These interest areas could be easily achieved through mobile app analytics. By improving an app's user-ability, developers can help meet user expectations. Alfabolt is currently working on mobile app analytics that can help a company grow better and faster.

All types of game development require great collaborations as well as strong competition. There will likely be some risks for Netflix, but the company's move into gaming will push game development further. Netflix will have an overall good impact on the gaming world.

Development of Netflix Games as Individual Apps