Netflix Video Games Development

[QualityChimp]

Netflix Eyes Video Games After Hiring Ex-EA and Facebook Executive to Lead Game Development
From Bandersnatch to Bandicoot.

"Netflix will offer more than just TV shows and movies in the future. Netflix confirmed to IGN that it hired former video game executive Mike Verdu to lead a new game development department at the streaming company.


As reported by Bloomberg, Netflix hired Verdu to be vice president of game development. Verdu was previously in charge of bringing developers and games to the Oculus VR ecosystem at Facebook.


At EA, Verdu oversaw the company’s mobile game studios which operated titles like SimCity, Plants vs. Zombies 2, and more.


Neither Netflix nor Bloomberg specified the full extent of this new video game venture — whether the streaming company will develop its own games or license games from third-party developers. Neither is it clear exactly how the company plans to distribute games on its platform.


If Netflix intends to release fully interactive games will Netflix ask subscribers to download full games, or will it utilize cloud streaming technology like Google, Amazon, and Xbox?


Netflix has flirted in the past with interactive shows. The Black Mirror special Bandersnatch included different choices the audience could choose to change the way events in the series played out. There were also multiple endings viewers could unlock, making it a popular show to rewatch.


Netflix also adapted Minecraft: Story Mode, a video game developed by Telltale that Netflix repurposed to resemble the choose-your-own-adventure format of Bandersnatch.


Aside from confirming that it hired Verdu as its VP of Game Development and providing Verdu’s background, Netflix did not comment further on its gaming aspirations."

[Asura]

Honestly I have zero faith in this, for the same reason Amazon's efforts have failed.

It's been widely publicised that Amazon couldn't make it work because they don't respect the medium. They believe that because they're "Amazon, media giant", that they can walk it. People who have left them in droves have all said similar things; that their creative leads are movie-heads who think silly little gaming is entrenched in its ways and that they know better. It sounds infuriating and I'm not surprised it's going down the pan.

Netflix might be smarter. Amazon hired the right people but didn't listen to them; Netflix could do this.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Dogg Thang]

I have a feeling they are going to do a lot better for a few reasons, one of which is that I've seen first hand how they do things and they don't half-ass anything. They'll cut something dead if it's not working, often too quickly in my own personal opinion, but while they're in it they will give it everything.

But one huge reason is that Netflix needs it. With their streaming service, Netflix are all in. Unlike Apple, unlike Amazon, they aren't just a vanity project of a huge company that has a whole different primary business. Streaming media is their primary business. It's everything and they are 100% invested in it. But it's under huge threat from the likes of Disney+. Netflix have no choice but to expand their offering and succeed. Right now, Netflix have too much at stake. That's not to say this will be great or even good. I'm just saying they will give it their all because they have to.

[Neon Ignition]

I mean, for a company that fights a tidal wave of debt in the name of growth and survival good luck to them. Much, much bigger fish have tried, are trying or ruled out an attempt themselves so I don't at all fancy Netflix's chances but yep - they'll certainly give it a good go

[wakka]

I'm interested to see how this works. I had nothing but scorn for Google and Amazon's efforts for exactly the reasons Asura outlines above - it was done without passion, without commitment, and without an attempt to understand the culture of videogames and the people who play them. It was an attempt to simply commodify them like so much data.

It's always gratifying when those attempts fail and it's proven that games are a little bit special.

But if Netflix do something interesting, show real commitment, and most importantly and in a very concrete sense get some exciting exclusives, then I could feel quite differently about this to how I felt about Stadia and Luna.

That's not to say I reckon it will be a success or anything though. No idea on that front. I think they've got a hell of a challenge on their hands to be honest. But I'm just talking here about my personal attitudes towards it.

[nonny]

I'm keen to see what they can do. Even after all these years they still have the best streaming service and user interface. Every time I go into Disney+ or Prime I wish it was just like Netflix.

That said there's still a chance the commitment side of things isn't there for them either. Or at least they don't give it the full consideration it deserves.

Still it remains to be seen. Stadia has fizzled and popped, Luna seems like a test bed of ideas and the only real service I trust right now to do it right is Xbox.

They've at least already had their TV TV TV moment and reverted back to concentrate on gamers first.

[fuse]

It's right to note the hubris of Google/Amazon in thinking they can just buy their way into assembling a development studio, but I think there's a possible difference in approach here that we're yet to understand. When I think about it in my head, there's a prompt that says "You've just finished watching The Witcher TV series. Would you like to play The Witcher?".