Video distribution service riceNetflix is bringing its video games to television for the first time.
Co-CEO Greg Peters made the announcement on the 8th at the Bloomberg ScreenTime conference in Los Angeles. This is a major step in an important growth strategy area.
“One of the gaming areas we’re aiming for is social gaming on TV,” Peters said. The company gave its previous efforts in this area a “B-minus.”
Co-CEO Greg Peters talks about video games on Netflix’s platform
Source: Bloomberg
Games that can be played in groups include “Boggle Party,” “Pictionary: Game Night,” “Tetris Time Warp,” and “Lego Party.”
The company has been offering games for the past four years as part of its strategy to expand into fields other than movies and dramas. Until now, the game was limited to playing on mobile devices, but now you can use your smartphone as a controller and play on the big screen of your TV.
Netflix booth at San Diego Comic Convention
Photographer: Chris Delmas/AFP/Getty Images
The gaming sector is highly profitable, but many Hollywood studios are struggling. Peters, who has been leading the expansion of Netflix’s games business, said the smartphone market is “already a mature and highly competitive ecosystem” as to why the company is focusing on video games.
Management has identified four categories of focus: children’s games, party games, consumer hits like Grand Theft Auto, and games based on existing Netflix titles like Stranger Things.
All titles offered this time as the first installment are free. To play, you’ll need a smart TV or a streaming device like one made by Roku. Scan the QR code to use your smartphone as a controller.
Netflix, which positions games as one of its growth pillars, is investing in infrastructure such as increasing the number of cloud servers.
Original title:Netflix Brings Video Games to Its TV Service for First Time (1)（抜粋）
— Coverage cooperation Hannah Miller
