Netflix is reportedly planning to expand its gaming offerings by adding "higher-end" titles to its subscription lineup, and there have been discussions about licensing a Grand Theft Auto game for this purpose.
The streaming giant ventured into gaming in November 2021 with the release of five mobile titles available to Netflix subscribers. Since then, its gaming library has grown to include over 70 titles, and it has made notable acquisitions, including Spry Fox, Next Games, and Night School Studio.
Netflix has Acquired multiple game studios
Netflix's ambitious gaming plans became more apparent when it established a Los Angeles studio in November, led by former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny, to create a high-quality third-person RPG for PC. A recent report from the Wall Street Journal sheds light on Netflix's intentions to expand into higher-end games playable on TVs and PCs.
Netflix has reportedly discussed licensing a game from Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series as part of its gaming expansion. However, details about the specific title and the outcome of these discussions remain undisclosed.
Netflix has reportedly discussed licensing a game from Rockstar's GTA series
Netflix believes that enhancing its gaming presence will attract and retain subscribers, providing entertainment between their favorite show seasons and potentially justifying subscription price increases. While game downloads from Netflix have increased from 30.4 million to 70.5 million over the past year, less than 1% of its 238 million subscribers play games daily. The requirement to download mobile games from app stores has caused a drop in engagement, with only half of subscribers who press the "Get Game" button actually downloading and playing games.
Source: Eurogamer