Netflix has its eyes on the games industry for a while now.
The Los Gatos, Californa-headquartered media services provider has been following the impact of games on media habits for some time, recently recognizing that one of the company’s greatest challenges for reaching the hearts and minds of streaming content consumers is Fortnite.
Recently, perhaps due to the impact of games on their business model, Netflix has started adding “Choose Your Own Adventure” style of branching paths type of interactivity to some of their content. Following their splashy, dark Black Mirror: Bandersnatch production, the company recently added the adventure-themed of You vs. Wild to their mix of interactive content.
Netflix has also licensed it’s science fiction/horror series, Stranger Things, alongside the third season series rollout. Developed by BonusXP, Stranger Things 3: The Game is set to launch on July 4, 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, and mobile devices.
Not content to stop there, Netflix appears ready to expand its presence in games. Through an exchange with then E3 2019 Twitter account, Netflix unfurled a panel, “Bringing Your Favorite Shows to Life: Developing Netflix Originals into Video Games,” along with a teaser about the Stranger Things game, starting with this tweet:
Getting hype for #E32019. Hey @E3, can we get an invite?
— NX (@NXOnNetflix) May 13, 2019
The tweet thread covers just enough details to spark curiosity — and make one wonder if any other Netflix content might get a reveal at the panel at E3 (The E3 2019 show will take place in Los Angeles on June 11-13.) Is a AAA game in the works? Is a different kind of interactive content to be crafted for Netflix’s streaming services? Maybe the company plans to work with the recently-announced Google Stadia or Apple Arcade? The possibilities are interesting. Events for Gamers will keep eyes on this developing news before and during E3 2019.
