As if movie productions, television show productions, anime productions, and seven Academy Awards in 2021 alone weren’t enough, on July 14th, 2021, it was confirmed that Netflix will be taking a deeper dive into the world of video games. After Bloomberg announced that Netflix has had the prospect of video game development in the works, there is a lot for viewers and gamers alike to break down.

As an article by Bloomberg released earlier today explained, Netflix has made, “…its first big move beyond TV shows and films.” Mike Verdu, a former Electronic Arts and Facebook executive, has been hired by Netflix in order to lead the push into video game development and platforms for the streaming company. 

“The idea is to offer video games on Netflix’s streaming platform within the next year, according to a person familiar with the situation.”

As of now, it is believed that Netflix will not be charging extra for the service. Likewise, the games produced through this program will be featured alongside Netflix’s other content, similar to how television shows or movies are displayed.

While game development is a big step for Netflix, it’s not entirely unheard of for the streaming service. In previous years, Netflix has released video games, such as their Stranger Things mobile and console games. However, this push had previously been slow, and now Netflix seems to be taking on a much more direct approach.

Netflix’s venture into video games is a step in a not-so-surprising direction. In terms of entertainment, Netflix has had some big competitors to face up to, especially with the increased availability of streaming services. Other big fish like Hulu and Amazon Prime have been at-ends with Netflix for years. And, while a bold move, gaining access to the large community of gamers around the world could help give Netflix a leg-up on their competitors. 

While there is still much more to be revealed about this upcoming project, many can rest assured knowing that big changes are coming to both the streaming and video gaming communities.