The metaphorical ink has barely dried on the Netflix announcement that it has bought Finnish mobile gaming developer Next Games, and already the subscription-based streaming giant is adding more substance to its brand-new gaming platform. This bolstering comes in the form of three new games; This is a True Story and Shatter Remastered, both set to arrive on March 22, and Into the Dead 2: Unleashed, which is marked as ‘Coming Soon.’
While Next Games doesn’t have a terribly vast collection of gaming titles, it does have two games based on the critically acclaimed The Walking Dead serial horror show and one based on the ever-popular drama Stranger Things, both of which are proud offerings on Netflix. Therefore the few games that Next Games has developed seem to fit well into the ever-expanding Netflix media empire and should certainly assist the subscription-based streaming service in serving up a specially curated selection of mobile gaming titles its users are sure to enjoy.
Netflix getting into gaming came as nothing short of a surprise, but users will have noticed the Netflix Games tab in the latest update, which brings an entirely new facet to how users interact with the streaming giant. In a recent statement concerning the then-impending purchase of Next Games, Mike Verdu, Netflix’s VP of Games, had the following to say:
‘With a shared vision and passion for games, we are looking forward to welcoming Next Games in a city that is home to some of the best mobile game-makers in the world. Helsinki is also near other European cities with great talent, which will help expand our in-house game development capabilities. While we’re just getting started in games, I am confident that together with Next Games, we will be able to build a portfolio of world-class games – with no ads and no in-app purchases – that will delight our members around the world.’
Based on the recently announced gaming titles, however, Netflix doesn’t just plan to start a gaming empire; it seems that the subscription-based streaming service is trying to illuminate world struggles with its carefully curated games. One, in particular, This is a True Story, tackles the gut-wrenching fact that 771 million people still don’t have adequate access to safe and clean drinking water. Created by Frosty Pop, This is a True Story lets players explore many aspects of rural Sub–Saharan African struggles based on actual experiences and interviews.
Just when it seemed Microsoft was to have a monopoly on digital gaming, Netflix swoops in with its own visions of a gaming-centric future. Only time will tell, however, whether Netflix will become a major player in the gaming sector, joining the likes of Microsoft and Sony, or whether it will instead focus on impactful, story-driven mobile games to educate users on the plight of the less fortunate.
If you’d rather binge on a new TV show, check out how to download a Netflix series.
