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[IbizaPocholo]

Netflix is expanding its push into video games, but few subscribers are playing along

Netflix has been rolling out the games as a way to keep users engaged between show releases. But estimates suggest few subscribers are playing.

www.cnbc.com

Netflix is accelerating its push into video games with plans to double its catalog of offerings by the end of the year, but for now, few of the streaming giant’s subscribers are playing.
Since last November, the company has been rolling out the games as a way to keep users engaged between show releases. The games are accessible only to subscribers, but have to be downloaded as separate apps.

The games have been downloaded a total of 23.3 million times and average 1.7 million daily users, according to Apptopia, an app analytics company. That’s less than 1% of Netflix’s 221 million subscribers.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

The problem is most people watch on tvs not phones. And even then if youre browsing on the mobile app the games are relatively hidden away.

Knowing they are on my phone app though i’ll be happy to try it out while waiting around sometime. Always wanted to play enter the breach

 

[Trogdor1123]

The problem is most people watch on tvs not phones. And even then if youre browsing on the mobile app the games are relatively hidden away.

Knowing they are on my phone app though i’ll be happy to try it out while waiting around sometime. Always wanted to play enter the breach

Yep. I think they should lean into the choose your own adventure type games, leans more into their market

 

[Aguero9320]

How does it work? I have Netflix and have been vaguely aware they are doing this, but I have never actually seen it in the app, and don't know if it's streaming or download?

 

[remember_spinal]

Its kind of a pain in the ass.

I downloaded Into The Breach, and played it a lot…again. I don’t really think it’ll be a common occurrence for me though. These big tech/media companies don’t really understand gaming or its audience.

The selection of actual good games is rare. It’s like interactive party type games

 

[remember_spinal]

How does it work? I have Netflix and have been vaguely aware they are doing this, but I have never actually seen it in the app, and don't know if it's streaming or download?

Just go to netflix app on any device and search games

 

[NanaMiku]

I already have too many mobile games that are too big. I'm not gonna download another mobile games

 

[e0n]

The best games on there are indie pc ports that aren't optimized for mobile. They need a multiplayer hit like a trivia show or something similar to be popular.

 

[Makoto-Yuki]

i don't think people are subbing to Netflix to play video games! i wouldn't sub to Spotify hoping i get to read some books! it's bloody silly.

i have Netflix and like games but don't bother with their selection because they all look like cheap mobile trash.

stick to movies and tv shows.

 

[Fat Frog]

Sinc

http://[URL]https://www.cnbc.com/20...-push-sees-few-subscribers-playing-along.html

[/URL]

Netflix is accelerating its push into video games with plans to double its catalog of offerings by the end of the year, but for now, few of the streaming giant’s subscribers are playing.
Since last November, the company has been rolling out the games as a way to keep users engaged between show releases. The games are accessible only to subscribers, but have to be downloaded as separate apps.

The games have been downloaded a total of 23.3 million times and average 1.7 million daily users, according to Apptopia, an app analytics company. That’s less than 1% of Netflix’s 221 million subscribers.

Since Netflix only presents crappy mobile games, it's not that bad...

I guess they'll do ok if they step up their lineup.

 

[Drew1440]

I thought these were games that could be played through the TV app, like the basic games that Sky used to offer. Lost interest when I found out they are mobile games.

 

[Robb]

Probably has more to do with what they’re offering.. I haven’t touched it cause there’s nothing on the service that’s interesting. 98% shovelware all around - although that’s unsurprising since that’s what their shows/movies are as well these days.

Get GTA6 as a Netflix exclusive and I’m sure people will join in.

 

[Skifi28]

Have music streaming too while we're at it. Subscribers are leaving because of price increases, not being able to share accounts anymore and lack of content that interests them. Mobile games are not going to solve the issue.

 

[DGrayson]

Not every company needs to do everything.

 

[Lukaku's First Touch]

Quelle surprise! I didn't even know this launched and the games available seem to be pure shovelware. They could at least advertise it on their main page when loading up Netflix video.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

"the future"

 

[SmokedMeat]

Completely forgot this was a thing. Might be because when browsing through Netflix for something to watch, I never saw a single mention of games.

 

[crackajack]

Not every company needs to do everything.

But "limitless" expansion is essential to our economic system...

Colleague didn't even know that his Prime offered PC games until I mentioned it. Since I never had Prime I never followed it, but I guess he missed out on a couple of dozen games he basically payed for.

I understand why such flatrate offers are made, to not divide it in tiers which need then some "tough" choice to be made, but mixing some arbitrary bits and pieces often make no sense whatsoever. I never payed for the MP part in PS+ but most people view its price as the MP fee... even though it initially wasn't about that, and now they even added streaming to the same label too.
I wonder why specific packages are not provided alongside any all inclusive offer- a cheaper downgrade path while you advertise the full package. With each bigger, more complete bundle a bigger discount, but if you only want a specific service, just allow me to pay solely that?
Netflix can advertise their gaming services within that TV-app thingy, but why "force" everyone to participate? Especially when seemingly only 1% care about both entertainment areas? Maybe growth is there? And the offer just got better recently? So it's a long term we-need-to-do-everything plan.

 

[Banjo64]

I just associate Netflix with trash tier productions. Why would anyone want to play their games?

 

[Punished Miku]

Girlfriend and I played some trivia game but it was actually on the TV. She seemed to enjoy it and we got a few laughs in with some beers. The voice actor was extremely annoying.

They should definitely be focused on games that play on your TV remote. Time for a Dragon's Lair remake.

 

[lostinblue]

Netflix is accelerating its push into video games with plans to double its catalog of offerings by the end of the year, but for now, few of the streaming giant’s subscribers are playing.

Netflix CEO's

EDIT: They probably want to get games in there to be able to hike prices again and say their service is worth it because they have *insert* million subscribers. But you can only use your account at your place, gaming while on vacation? the nerve! we charge extra for that, but not for some shitty games we want to forcefeed you. Come again!

 

[remember_spinal]

I dont really see a lot of these big companies making a true push into gaming, on the enthusiast side. Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook…all half hearted efforts so far and they are all continually losing money from it, aside from like Apple Arcade.

 

[FR1908]

Just go to netflix app on any device and search games

For Android devices it works like that. You can easily choose "Games" in the Netflix-app, but I was trying to find it on my colleague's iPhone and noticed it was missing there. He had to search for the specific game I was telling him about (Poinpy) in the app store separately. That's not easy to sell for Netflix.

Btw, I read the Edge's 9/10 review for Poinpy, so I gave it a try. Addicted since!

 

[FunkMiller]

This is going to fail the same way Apple would if they started trying to sell you gardening equipment.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

This is going to fail the same way Apple would if they started trying to sell you gardening equipment.

The apple ihoe.

 

[lovetalkgames]

The problem is most people watch on tvs not phones. And even then if youre browsing on the mobile app the games are relatively hidden away.

Knowing they are on my phone app though i’ll be happy to try it out while waiting around sometime. Always wanted to play enter the breach

A great deal of people watch on mobile devices. Your statement is not true at all.

 

[ComputerBlue]

What’s annoying is they’re removing games that were free to play and adding them to their subscription only service. I’ve got Netflix so if I wanted to play any of those games I still could, but this is a scumbag move. Who the fuck would pay $15 a month just to access a small and relatively mediocre selection of mobile games. People are subbing for the movies and shows, I can’t imagine this increasing their subscription numbers by anything even remotely significant.

 

[Kev Kev]

I think this could absolutely work if they focus on kids and mobile games type of stuff. But as it is, I simply don’t think enough people know about it, and then there is the issue of a controller. Do they use their phone? Can they use an Xbox on troller? Their regular remote?

I think people just don’t know about it and aren’t certain about the details, so they aren’t interested in looking into it.

It’ll be interesting to see how/if Netflix remedy’s those issues.

 

[lh032]

I mean they subscribe to netflix is to watch movies not to play games

 

[Magic Carpet]

I still do not know how to access these games. Where are they? I have a netflix account, how do I find the games?

 

[SeraphJan]

I might be one of these anti-cloud gaming folk people categorized, I dislike anything related to cloud gaming, I hope nobody gives a damn about cloud gaming in general so this dumb idea would never see the light to replace physical hardware in the future. Any money supporting this dumb idea is bad for the very hobby that I loved till this day.

 

[AJUMP23]

Do not want to open my netflix app to play a game.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Girlfriend and I played some trivia game but it was actually on the TV. She seemed to enjoy it and we got a few laughs in with some beers. The voice actor was extremely annoying.

They should definitely be focused on games that play on your TV remote. Time for a Dragon's Lair remake.

Yeah I would 100% go for something casual like that. It is insane that Netflix would bother competing in the mobile market against every other established gaming company in the world. Actually now that I think about it this is probably reward-work to try and retain top tech talent because lord knows just fucking about on recommendation algorithms would get old after a while and for some reason netflix thinks that they are still a tech company and hires accordingly.

 

[DeltaPolarBear]

Video games is a tough mature business.

But for some reason, CEOs of other industries think it is somehow easy to join up. They didn't realise the easy money had already been made, and they are latecomers with no legacy fanbase to fall back on.

You can try making money in gaming, but you better be prepared to spend a decade losing money first.

 

[Sosokrates]

They should buy or do a deal with stadia.

 

[jufonuk]

Can’t play the games if offline so it really worth it

 

[AJUMP23]

I tried to open the app on my phone and find a game....I could mot find one.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I tried to open the app on my phone and find a game....I could mot find one.

Search for games and you will see about 5 of them plus some interactive games which I assume are TV games. I don't know if there is an easier way to get to them, but netflix not exposing these is why no one is playing them lmao.

 

[AJUMP23]

Search for games and you will see about 5 of them plus some interactive games which I assume are TV games. I don't know if there is an easier way to get to them, but netflix not exposing these is why no one is playing them lmao.

I found them on my second attempt. I may get Into the Breach on my Ipad.

 

[Stitch]

I might be one of these anti-cloud gaming folk people categorized, I dislike anything related to cloud gaming, I hope nobody gives a damn about cloud gaming in general so this dumb idea would never see the light to replace physical hardware in the future. Any money supporting this dumb idea is bad for the very hobby that I loved till this day.

they're not cloud games. you download them on your phone...

I tried to open the app on my phone and find a game....I could mot find one.

open app, click on games tab

 

[Evolved1]

It's pretty stupid imo, at least in my case... I don't pay for the premium tier of Netflix to access it on my fuckin phone.

 

[NiiloPielinen]

I didn't even know they were "real" games, I always thought they were some play-in-a-browser on their facebook page type of games.

 

[StealthGoblin]

It’s not been promoted in the service at all, at least in the U.K. so I wouldn’t even be able to tell you what is available.