Netflix to Launch Mobile Games - A New Gaming Push

Netflix Expands into Gaming and Reports Q2 2021 Earnings

Recent reports indicated Netflix’s growing interest in the gaming sector. The company’s Q2 2021 earnings report officially confirmed these ambitions. Initially, Netflix intends to concentrate its gaming efforts on mobile platforms.

This strategy will build upon existing interactive projects, such as Black Mirror Bandersnatch and games inspired by the Stranger Things franchise.

Gaming Included with Subscription

All forthcoming game titles will be provided at no extra charge to current Netflix subscribers. The company emphasized its continued commitment to producing both films and television series.

In a communication to shareholders, Netflix positioned gaming as a new content category, comparable to its ventures into original films, animation, and unscripted television.

Subscriber Growth and Challenges

The year 2020 proved exceptionally successful for Netflix. Widespread lockdowns and cinema closures resulted in the acquisition of 16 million new subscribers within a single quarter.

However, the rate of subscriber growth has significantly decreased in 2021, presenting a continuing challenge for the streaming service.

The company’s earnings report revealed the addition of 1.5 million subscribers during Q2, exceeding the projected one million. Nevertheless, this figure remains lower than the 3.98 million new customers added in Q1 2021.

Future Subscriber Forecasts

Netflix anticipates adding 3.5 million new subscribers in Q3 2021, an increase from the 2.2 million gained during the same period last year.

Achieving this projection would bring the total number of new subscribers over the past two years to 54 million.

Despite a slower growth rate, Netflix’s overall financial performance remains strong, with revenue increasing by 19 percent year-over-year to $7.3 billion for the quarter.

Popular Content Highlights

According to Netflix’s data, Shadow and Bone proved to be a highly popular series this quarter, reaching over 55 million member households in under a month.

This success has led to the renewal of the show for a second season.

Sweet Tooth, adapted from a DC comic, was streamed by 60 million households during its first month of availability.

Unscripted and Film Successes

Unscripted series like Too Hot to Handle and The Circle also garnered significant viewership, alongside the true crime docuseries The Sons of Sam.

On the film front, Zac Snyder’s Army of the Dead reached 75 million households within its first month.

Furthermore, The Mitchells vs. The Machines has become Netflix’s most-watched animated film to date, streaming to 53 million households.

Content Pipeline and Future Releases

Netflix acknowledged that COVID-19 related production delays resulted in a “lighter” content offering during the first half of 2021.

However, the company expects the pace of new content releases to accelerate throughout the remainder of the year.

The Q3 lineup includes new seasons of popular series such as La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), Sex Education, Virgin River, and Never Have I Ever.

Additionally, live-action films like Sweet Girl (starring Jason Momoa), Kissing Booth 3, and Kate (featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead) are scheduled for release.

The animated film Vivo, showcasing new music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, will also be available.

Note: This article was originally published on Engadget.