Netflix is releasing its first games on a global scale as it attempts to get into the gaming subscription business.
According to BBC, the business will update its Netflix app for Android smartphones to highlight which games are available for download.
To begin, Netflix subscribers will receive five mobile games.
The business promises more in the future, with no advertisements in the game and no in-app purchases like those seen in other mobile games.
Two of the five games available with the service are based on Netflix’s popular Stranger Things series:
- Stranger Things: 1984
- Stranger Things 3: The Game
- Card Blast
- Teeter Up
- Shooting Hoops
“While this is just the beginning of a long journey, we’re excited to provide a gaming experience that is differentiated from what is available today – exclusive mobile games with no ads, no in-app payments, included with your Netflix membership,” the company said.
While the initial games have very simple graphics and informal gameplay, Netflix claims it is still in the early stages and plans to produce games “for every kind of player” in the future.
“Whether you’re craving a casual game you can start from scratch, or an immersive experience that lets you dig deeper into your favourite stories, we want to begin to build a library of games that offers something for everyone,” wrote Mike Verdu, the company’s head of game development.
Mr. Verdu was a significant hire for Netflix, having previously worked at EA and Facebook, where he focused on augmented and virtual reality.
This week’s update is only available for Android phones and tablets. Netflix stated that games would be available for iOS devices “in the coming months.”
Apple has previously rebuffed attempts by other companies to create “stores within stores,” particularly in the gaming industry.
Despite the delay in reaching Apple users, Microsoft has established itself as the market leader in the game subscription business to date.
Its Xbox Game Pass service contains the majority of Microsoft’s own game studio releases on the day they are released, with many of them playable on an Xbox, a gaming computer, or streamed over the internet to phones and tablets.
Tens of millions of members are expected to pay between £7.99 and £10.99 per month, depending on the features they require.
