This week, Netflix introduced a new library of games that work directly on the TV app for the first time, and are played by starting the game on the TV, scanning the QR code and using the mobile phone as a controller. At the presentation in Hollywood, journalists were shown a mix of new and classic “party” titles – from Pictionary, Boggle Party and Tetris Time Warp to Lego Party – all designed so that playing does not require a console or additional hardware.
See how Netflix envisioned its version of game night:
The idea is to make board games as accessible as the show: open Netflix, select a game, friends scan the code and they’re instantly in the same game. The announcement also mentioned future titles such as Netflix Puzzled, a daily center for sudoku, crosswords and eight-pointers inspired by Netflix series. Games based on well-known brands are also planned: Peppa Pig: Play with Peppa for kids, The Queen’s Gambit Chess for chess fans, and an interactive love story inspired by the reality show Love Is Blind.
Vice President of Games Alain Tascan, who previously worked at Epic Games, says their goal is to “make gaming as natural and accessible as push-to-play for a movie.” Netflix bosses emphasize that they do not want to directly compete with consoles, but to create their own category of social gaming tailored to subscribers. Co-CEO Greg Peters recently admitted that he would give previous gaming attempts a “weak four”, but he sees the new TV platform as a turn towards shared, interactive content instead of solitary mobile gaming.
In addition to its own projects, Netflix plans to include in the offer larger third parties, such as Civilization VI and the mobile version of Red Dead Redemption with the Undead Nightmare expansion. Experts like Professor Dmitri Williams from the University of Southern California believe that the format is not new, but that Netflix has what others did not have – a recognizable brand, a bunch of its own series and movies, and millions of users who can “push” this idea straight into the living room.
The path to interactive content Netflix is building more. for years: from the first mobile games related to Stranger Things, through the interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, to today’s attempt to combine watching and playing in one application. If their plan succeeds, Netflix could turn into a platform where, after an episode of your favorite reality show with the same team, you can immediately play a speed quiz or a party game – without installing anything or turning on an additional console.