Netflix Takes the First Steps Toward a Mobile Game Subscription Option

Netflix hasnt forgotten about the gaming climate so easily. Quite the opposite, in fact. The video streaming platform is looking deeper into publishing their own mobile game system.

Its only a look, though. According to the Netflix Geeked Twitter account, the company is testing two mobile games, and only in Poland. The game are Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3. Participating users will be able to log into their Netflix mobile app and follow a link that directs them to download these games from the Google Play Store for no cost. The games have no ads, no microtransactions, and are included as part of their Netflix subscription.

This is a somewhat unorthodox, but quite interesting method of creating a system to subscribe to a mobile game library. While it seems very round about at first, having the game still exist on the Google Play Store, instead of trying to bypass Googles system, saves them from the complication and struggle of making a conflicting interest. And with Google and Epic fighting over pushing boundaries too far, this is a nice, safe move.

In a way, we shouldnt even be surprised by this. Netflix has continued to dabble lightly into the games industry for years, from creating Stranger Things games to hosting choose your own adventure games like Minecraft: Story Mode, to even creating their own games like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. They clearly want to be a part of gaming, but have kept it very cautious and low-commitment so far.

Netflixs long term game plans arent clear at this time, but they did clarify in their financial result report that they will be focusing on ad-free, microtransaction-free mobile games first. The first part is the important thing to note.

One thing we wonder is when you cancel your subscription, do you lose access to these games? Maybe, maybe not. But a Netflix sub for one month costs more than your average mobile game anyway, so its not like this will be a more affordable option, just a more convenient one.