Just as a result of Netflix is cancelling one other hit TV present, it doesn’t imply the streaming firm isn’t investing elsewhere. In reality, Netflix’s executives’ eyes appear more and more turned away from TV content material and towafreelancertamals gaming, as its newest acquisition proves.
The firm is shopping for Finnish video games growth studio Next Games. The developer has a observe recofreelancertamal for creating cell video games based mostly on leisure licenses, and has already created gem-matching RPG puzzler Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales, based mostly on the sci-fi horror franchise, among the best Netflix reveals.
It’s additionally put out various video games based mostly on The Walking Dead too, together with The Walking Dead: Our World, which makes use of mixed-reality and augmented actuality parts in an identical option to what’s already confirmed massively profitable in Niantic’s Pokemon Go.
The acquisition is about to finish within the second quarter of 2022.
“Next Games has a seasoned management team, strong track recofreelancertamal with mobile games based on entertainment franchises, and solid operational capabilities,” mentioned Michael Vefreelancertamalu, Vice President of Games, Netflix.
“We are excited for Next Games to join Netflix as a core studio in a strategic region and key talent market, expanding our internal game studio 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 that will delight our members around the world.”
“Joining forces with the world’s largest streaming service, Netflix, presents an opportunity for a logical and exciting continuation of our strategy to craft interactive experiences for the world to enjoy,” added Teemu Huuhtanen, Chief Executive Officer, Next Games.
“Our close collaboration with Netflix on Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales has already proven that together we create a strong partnership.”
What Netflix’s recreation trade purchases imply for players
Though it pales compared to Microsoft’s $75 billion acquisition of Activision, Netflix’s buy of Next Games, at $65 million, nonetheless represents the corporate’s greatest funding in gaming because it introduced intent to increase its interactive leisure output final July.
Should the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft be involved about Netflix consuming into their gaming-focussed lunches?
Perhaps Microsoft, whose buy of Activision additionally included the subsidiary cell gaming firm King. But in any other case… in all probability not. Netflix is trying to seize a few of an (admittedly giant) gaming viewers on cell, however it’s one which, for essentially the most half, the ‘core’ gaming firms nonetheless shrink back from.
Instead, Netflix’s transfer sees it maneuvring to diversify its output, because it follows its viewership away from their TV screens and out into the actual world on their different gadgets. Netflix is as a lot a know-how firm as it’s an leisure one, and gaming provides it a possibility to monetize its mental property (and the present baked-in audiences) in new methods.
When you consider the excitement across the metaverse that’s occurring (and obvious funding into it from juggernauts Facebook / Meta, and Apple with its upcoming headset), you may see why Netflix can be desirous about partnering with an organization that already has expertise bringing leisure properties to life by AR functions.
Expanding in style franchises past only one platform is the most effective alternative to squeeze more cash from them – in Next Games, Netflix has discovered a companion that may not solely put them on smartphones, however doubtlessly into the blended actuality worlds we’ll quickly be spending our time in.
It’s value noting that Finland is the de facto residence of cell gaming too – Clash of Clans developer Supercell relies overseas, as is cell gaming veteran Rovio, residence of Angry Bifreelancertamals. So there’s a hotbed of native expertise that Netflix’s gaming groups can faucet into to attain this objective.
