Netflix announced on Tuesday that it has purchased video game developer Night School Studio and released five mobile gaming games in key European territories, as part of an effort to diversify revenue sources amid increasing competition in the streaming business.
The company’s initial gaming studio acquisition, Night School Studio, is most known for its debut game, “Oxenfree,” a mysterious teen drama with an ominous soundtrack.
The studio’s games will be the first non-mobile titles in the streaming giant’s newly minted video game portfolio, and will be accessible on Sony’s (6758.T) PlayStation, Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PCs.
“These games, like our shows and films, will all be included as part of your Netflix membership – with no commercials and no in-app sales,” Netflix added.
Netflix highlighted its plans to enter gaming during its most recent quarterly results call, as emerging players such as Disney+ and HBO Max have been swiftly collecting customers, intensifying the streaming landscape’s rivalry.
Netflix customers in Spain and Italy may now watch “Stranger Things: 1984,” “Stranger Things 3: The Game,” “Card Blast,” “Teeter Up,” and “Shooting Hoops” on Android, according to the company.
The other three titles will be released in Poland, which already has the “Stranger Things” titles. In its shareholder letter, the business stated, “We consider gaming as another new content area for us, similarly to our expansion into original films, animation, and unscripted TV.”
