Netflix has had a few games based on its own shows and films. And now the company said it is “open” to the idea of looking outside of its own IP and could license other games in the future.
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As reported by Variety, Netflix COO and Chief Product Officer Greg Peters spoke at a pre-recorded Q&A about the value of its subscription model and how it might come from outside of Netflix’s wheelhouse.
“It was exciting to see the activity in the space and I think, to some degree, it’s an endorsement of the core thesis that we have around subscription being a great model to connect consumers around the world with games and gaming experiences,” said Peters. “We’re open to licensing/accessing large game IP that people will recognize. And I think you will [see] some of that happen over the year to come.”
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It’s unclear how this will all come to fruition, if it even happens at all, but it does speak to Netflix’s increasing interest in the gaming space. Aside from the two previous Stranger Things games, it released a roguelike based on 2021’s action movie Kate. It also launched five games in November that subscribers can access for no extra charge. The library has grown to 12 in the ensuing months. Netflix also acquired Night School Studio, the team behind Oxenfree and Afterparty, in September. It’s also been the home to multiple gaming television series like The Witcher, Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, and Arcane.
Netflix Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos talked about Stranger Things in the same Q&A and how Netflix was able to build a powerhouse franchise from scratch that was also able to branch in video games. He said he sees that process as a “huge, long-term, multiyear opportunity” and that he hopes that the “next Bridgerton or Squid Game” might have all of these multimedia pieces together when they break through.
