Netflix rolls out gaming on Android, expected on iOS soon

Netflix Games, a dedicated section within the streaming platform, has started rolling out to all subscribers on the Android app starting today, the company said in an official post. It’s expected to roll out on iOS soon. Games on Netflix will be offered as part of the existing subscription and users will not be charged any extra fees for it.

The video streaming firm had been planning a foray into gaming for some time and had announced its plans in July with the hiring of Mike Verdu as vice president of game development. An industry veteran, Verdu had previously served as VP mobile at EA Sports and was the VP of content for Facebook Reality Labs before joining Netflix.

The first batch of games that have been rolled out under Netflix Games includes Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. 

“Whether you’re craving a casual game you can start from scratch or an immersive experience that lets you dig deeper into your favorite stories, we want to begin to build a library of games that offers something for everyone,” Verdu said in a statement.

Though the games are offered by streaming services providers, they will not be streamed directly on the device and subscribers will have to download them first. Some of the games may require an active internet connection to work.

Gaming has emerged as a major pass time for users. The shift to remote work and learning after the pandemic also triggered a massive interest in gaming and resulted in several non-gamers becoming casual gamers and casual gamers becoming serious gamers. 

Some of the non-gaming companies have also been trying to take advantage of this burgeoning interest in gaming. Companies such as Snapdeal, Ixigo have also added HTML games on their platforms through a tie-up with Plug and play gaming platforms such as Gamezop.