NETFLIX START GAMING IN MOBILE

 Netflix revealed that its initial efforts in gaming are going to be focused on mobile games which the games are included with users’ Netflix subscriptions, the corporate announced as a part of its second-quarter operating statement on Tuesday. The news comes just days after the corporate said it hired former EA and Oculus exec Mike Verdu to go up to its gaming work. Games will be included at no added cost with a Netflix subscription

Here is precisely what Netflix said about gaming, from its letter to investors:

We’re also within the early stages of further expanding into games, building on our earlier efforts around interactivity (eg, Black Mirror Bandersnatch) and our Stranger Things games. We view gaming as another new content category for us, as our expansion into original films, animation, and unscripted TV. Games are included in members’ Netflix subscriptions at no additional cost like films and series. Initially, we’ll be primarily focused on games for mobile devices. We’re excited as ever about our movies and television series offering and that we expect an extended runway of skyrocketing investment and growth across all of our existing content categories, but since we are nearly a decade into our push into original programming, we expect the time is correct to find out more about how our members value games.

There are still no details on what forms of games will actually be available, though Netflix recently extended its TV handle Shonda Rhimes to incorporate feature films and gaming content. There’s also no word on how games are going to be delivered to Netflix subscribers.

The company has acknowledged within the past that it competes with games for time and a spotlight, with co-CEO Reed Hastings writing that “we compete with (and lose to) Fortnite over HBO” in 2019. COO Greg Peters discussed the company’s interest in games in April (PDF) as a part of its half-moon earnings. and also the company has already dipped its toes into gaming with experiences like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Carmen Sandiego.

But with the recent hiring of Verdu and also the new information shared Tuesday about its initial plans, now it looks like Netflix is more focused on games than ever