Just a few days back, OTT giant Netflix had purportedly created a record by churning out a whopping number of 1026 original episodes during the third quarter of 2022. The figure was much more than its rival OTT platforms namely Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+, etc.
But would that be enough for Netflix to consistently counter the fierce competition in the cutthroat streaming world? There is one differentiating factor and a potential trump card which Netflix has under its arsenal that its rival OTT platforms don’t (until now).
It’s their expanding gaming division. Even Netflix knows that and is evidently quite serious about it.
Because Netflix has recently revealed that it is developing 55 more games for its OTT platform. Moreover, the streaming service is also seriously considering creating its own cloud gaming platform. This would enable their subscribers to enjoy the games over the cloud, and it would also increase the reach for their TV and PC user segment.
It was recently reported that Netflix has gained 2.4 million subscribers during the third quarter of 2022. Although it’s an encouraging figure compared to the 2-lakh subscriber loss in Q1, the overall subscriber increase reflects diminished growth.
To overcome this problem, and to widen its subscriber base worldwide, Netflix’s gaming portfolio can turn out to be a game changer for the OTT giant.
Currently, Netflix’s gaming menu comprises 35 game titles ranging from ‘Stranger Things: 1984’, ‘Heads Up!’, ‘Strangers Things 2: The Game’, ‘Into the Breach’, Asphalt Xtreme’, and ‘Into the Dead 2; Unleashed’, to name a few.
The 55 upcoming games which are under development at Netflix also include the game adaptations of several of its own popular shows like the cult heist series ‘Money Heist’, the Golden Globe winner ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, fantasy show ‘Shadow and Bone’, and reality series ‘Too Hot to Handle’, etc.
It’s an innovative and sensible strategy by Netflix to capitalize on the fan following and popularity of their existing properties.
All these things suggest an ambitious trend and Netflix’s serious intention of betting big on their gaming division. Netflix is slowly and steadily scaling up its gaming portfolio since last year’s launch of five small games.
In case Netflix’s gaming portfolio clicks big time with OTT subscribers, then Netflix will certainly benefit from the first movers’ advantage. Their gaming portfolio is a potential trump card and a differentiating strategy for Netflix in order to stay on top of the cut-throat OTT world and even ahead of its competition.