As the games industry grows at an exponential rate each year, those in other entertainment sectors continue to eye the space with growing interest. With the likes of Amazon and Google having taken steps to have a larger presence in video games in recent years, it’s only a matter of time before other multimedia giants follow suit. Next in line, it seems, is Netflix.
As reported by Bloomberg, plans are underway at Netflix to enter the games industry, with a streaming platform set to launch within the coming year, which will, of course, also offer Netflix-developed games to subscribers of the service. According to Bloomberg, the service will be part of Netflix’s already existing platform, with no current plans to charge extra for it, while the company is also recruiting for various game development positions.
To lead its charge into the games industry, Netflix has hired Mike Verdu as vice president of game development, who will report directly to Chief Operating Officer Greg Peters. Verdu is an industry veteran and has quite the CV, having worked in lead positions at Atari, and EA Los Angeles in his earlier years, and has served as chief creative officer at Zynga, senior vice president at EA Mobile, and vice president at Facebook, where he worked with developers on Oculus.
