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Netflix announces three new games available for Android and iOS

Netflix announces three new games available for Android and iOS
Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

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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.

Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

I hail from the awe-inspiring beauty of South Africa. Born and raised in Pretoria, I've always had a deep interest in local history, particularly conflicts, architecture, and our country's rich past of being a plaything for European aristocracy. 'Tis an attempt at humor. My interest in history has since translated into hours at a time researching everything from the many reasons the Titanic sank (really, it's a wonder she ever left Belfast) to why Minecraft is such a feat of human technological accomplishment. I am an avid video gamer (Sims 4 definitely counts as video gaming, I checked) and particularly enjoy playing the part of a relatively benign overlord in Minecraft. I enjoy the diverse experiences gaming offers the player. Within the space of a few hours, a player can go from having a career as an interior decorator in Sims, to training as an archer under Niruin in Skyrim. I believe video games have so much more to teach humanity about community, kindness, and loyalty, and I enjoy the opportunity to bring concepts of the like into literary pieces.

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