As Netflix subscriptions dwindle in the sunset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the streaming company has its next big bet: mobile games. To bolster its gaming output, the streaming giant is investing heavily in new studios to make mobile gaming a huge success.
Netflix Gaming AAA Studio
Despite only about 1% of active subscribers using the Netflix Gaming service, the streaming giant is going all in. With video subscriptions starting to dwindle, the company believes massive gaming projects will attract people again, a-lá Xbox Game Pass.
In the past, Netflix has unveiled huge projects for its subscription service. For example, a recent partnership with Ubisoft revealed that an all-new Assassin’s Creed game is coming to the service. There are also smaller titles such as Valiant Hearts sequel coming to Netflix.
Partnerships aren’t the only way Netflix invests, though. in a recent press releasethe company revealed that it is investing heavily in its own game studio in Helsinki.
VP of Game Studios Amir Rahimi explained that the developer aspires to be a “world-class game studio that will bring a variety of delicious and engaging original games – with no ads and no in-app purchases – to our hundreds of millions of members around the world.” .”
“It’s still in its infancy and we have a lot more work to do to deliver a great gaming experience on Netflix,” they said. “Making a game can take years, so I’m proud to see how we are steadily laying the groundwork for our game studios in our first year, and I look forward to sharing what we produce in the coming years.”
Read more: Netflix’s Oxenfree port replaces the original, putting the game behind a subscription
Fruits of their labor
Of course, there is no easy way to open a new development studio. Even established game companies like Microsoft take years to properly establish game developers. For example, Microsoft’s newest AAA studio, The Initiative, has yet to make its first game after being founded years ago.
If Netflix Gaming wants its new studio to create true AAA experiences on mobile, it will be a long time before we see the fruits of their labors. However, with smaller titles in mind, we could see more real gems coming to the platform. It’s all a balance.
While Netflix’s approach to mobile gaming has its problems, we hope they succeed. Even if you’re stuck behind a subscription, new real quality mobile games will always be great.
