It has only been a few months since Netflix confirmed plans to include games as part of its subscription, and after an initial test in Poland, the streamer is opening its selection of Android titles to customers in Spain and Italy. While Netflix has had some promotional titles before, with tie-ins recently revealed for everything from Oculus VR to PC gamers on Steam, this experience is built directly into its app.
The rollout continues! Today members in Spain and Italy will see Netflix Games available on their Android phones. We’re still in the early stages of our gaming experience, however here’s a snapshot of what’s new… pic.twitter.com/LHaQJmCBvn
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) September 28, 2021
The Netflix games test is only available on Android at the moment, while tweets from its localized accounts for Spain and Italy show it still works by pushing customers to the Google Play Store. There, they can install the titles that are playable as part of their normal subscription. After they’re installed, players can launch them from the main Netflix app, but it’s not like watching a movie since players are shifted over to the game’s own app. There are five games to choose from: Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, Teeter Up, Stranger Things: 1984, and Stranger Things 3.
One important change is visible already in the screenshots, as the gaming section has received its own section in the bottom navigation bar, which should make it more visible to people simply browsing the app. When they announced the effort in July, Netflix execs said, “Games will be included in members’ Netflix subscription at no additional cost, similar to films and series. Initially, we’ll be primarily focused on games for mobile devices.”
Today’s tweet indicates the company is “still in the early stages of our gaming experience,” without revealing anything about when it might be available in the US. If you’re desperate for hints, the most telling factor is probably that it’s in English.
