Netflix Games Release Date: November 3, 2021

Netflix Games will launch on the existing Netflix smartphone app on Android devices today, November 3, 2021.

We've reported on Netflix's interest in entering the gaming industry for months now, and now the Netflix Games is finally here. The Netflix Games service will be available for free for existing Netflix subscribers, and it can be accessed through a menu in the Netflix smartphone app.

However, those looking for new games coming out of Netflix, get ready to be disappointed. The games accessible through the service are already existing games, some of which are based on Netflix's own IPs. The list includes the following games: Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up.

This is going to change in the long-term, though, as Netflix seems serious about expanding its multimedia empire to gaming. Just a few months back, Netflix bought Night School Studio, developers of Oxenfree and Afterparty, seemingly to have them develop games for Netflix. Moreover, Netflix's outlook in the business goes beyond just providing streaming services for video content. In fact, Netflix considers Fortnite to be their biggest rival, not other streaming platforms like HBO Now. Netflix understands that other forms of entertainment cannibalize watch and play hours from each other, and moves into the gaming industry with such insight in mind. Now, they plan to monopolize peoples' time, regardless of the format, may it be gaming or watching TV series.

“Just like our series, films and specials, we want to design games for any level of play and every kind of player, whether you're a beginner or a lifelong gamer,” says Netflix Games VP for Game Development Mike Verdu. “And we're just getting started. We're excited to continue improving our mobile gaming experience and adding to our entertainment offering in the months ahead.”

With Netflix Games out, only time will tell how long it'll take for the platform to start streaming content creators as well. Whenever that happens, we know one person who's already interested to take part of the cake: Dr. DisRespect. But whether or not Netflix will take this direction is not yet clear, much less on when that will happen.