Netflix Gaming Chief Reveals Plans for ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Bridgerton’ Games

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As a movie enthusiast, I found myself seated among a sea of reporters at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 19th. That day, Netflix’s gaming chief, Alain Tascan, shared more about our gaming strategy than any executive has done since the Big Red N made its foray into the gaming industry in 2021 – opening up like never before.

During his two-hour talk, Tascan’s most daring assertion was, “If our goals don’t align with Netflix’s ultimate mission, then we’re merely a diversion.

The executive who started at Netflix in July 2024, having spent three decades in the gaming industry with companies like Epic Games, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft, was openly addressing the obvious issue. There’s been a lingering doubt about Netflix’s involvement in gaming: will they eventually consider it as important as TV and movies in terms of generating income and reducing subscriber attrition?

Netflix’s leading executives have emphasized this as their objective. “We’re gradually demonstrating to our members that we offer a platform for exploring and enjoying games, and we’re excited about continuing to roll out larger and more impressive games each year,” co-CEO Greg Peters stated during the company’s earnings call in January.

In October 2024, Netflix faced some challenges in expanding its game production sector, as they closed down their Team Blue studio, known for producing a shooter-style game similar to “Call of Duty.” This decision, along with the recent departure of Netflix gaming head Mike Verdu, suggests a change in strategy within the industry.

During an interview at GDC, Tascan clarified to EbMaster that Netflix won’t shy away from taking significant risks, despite closing Team Blue. He explained that while Team Blue was working on a triple-A shooter game (a highly competitive genre), he felt it wasn’t the best environment for making a big, innovative production.

Tascan emphasized that this doesn’t imply a lack of ambition for grand accomplishments. I want to stress this point, as some might misunderstand our decision as scaling back. The team was outstanding, boasting exceptional skills, working on something extremely specific that was ideally suited for either console or PC gaming. However, it didn’t align with the platform we operate on. Tascan suggested that the Team Blue project could have been remarkable, but Netflix must innovate and take a different approach to ensure success.

For Tascan, this translates to concentrating on both new and established intellectual property (IP) across various fields, as Netflix launches games playable on TVs and mobile devices, while also expanding its collection of narrative games, social games (“couchplay” as Netflix terms it), children’s games, and mainstream titles. At the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Netflix demonstrated “Spirit Crossing,” a game resembling Studio Ghibli productions, featuring a fantastical life-simulation in a massively multiplayer online environment. This is an original IP from Netflix’s Spry Fox studio, recently acquired in 2022. Although the hands-on demos of the game are currently buggy, no release date has been set, giving Netflix ample time to perfect it before launch.

At GDC, Tascan proposed a plan to incorporate games more deeply into Netflix’s business structure. One approach is to motivate gamers who play games based on Netflix’s intellectual properties, such as the popular “Squid Game” mobile game, to watch the related series or film. By doing so, they can unlock rewards within the game. Tascan aims to integrate games into a fully immersive transmedia experience, an area where Netflix has the potential to achieve some incredibly innovative feats.

Essentially, envision a scenario where what you observe translates into an immersive experience within the game. Suppose you damage something or eliminate a character; when you revisit the subsequent part of the story, the damages you caused remain as they were, or the character you killed exhibits altered behavior due to your actions.

As an ardent fan, I must admit that Netflix is indeed making great strides, but there’s still a lot more to be done before we reach the ultimate integration of streaming and gaming. According to Tascan, they are currently working on refining the technology that aligns viewers’ viewing habits with their interactive gameplay experiences, which seems to have already pushed their servers to their limits with just a simple test.

Similarly, Tascan and his team are investigating creative methods to merge linear and interactive storytelling within popular Netflix series such as Shonda Rhimes’ “Bridgerton”. As Tascan stated, “In games, you want to be immersed in a world and create your own narrative. ‘Bridgerton’ serves as an ideal illustration.” He also believes that “Stranger Things” and “One Piece” could also benefit from this interactive gameplay format.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d rather carve my own path in the magical realm of ‘Harry Potter’, not as Harry himself. I’d opt for a different house and create unique spells, shaping my own tale instead. The key lies in discovering captivating universes that encourage personal narratives. Shows like ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Stranger Things’ already have this charm, and I see immense potential in them. For me, ‘One Piece’ is another world brimming with opportunity, a realm I’d be thrilled to delve into and bring to life on screen.

Coordinating the simultaneous release of a series (or movie) and a related game can be quite challenging due to developmental complexities. For instance, Tascan isn’t revealing whether the “Stranger Things” game will coincide with the final season this year or if we should expect a “Bridgerton” game adaptation sometime soon.

In simpler terms, Tascan stated, “Since different eras call for distinct ideas, we must continue collaborating with those who share our passion for this work, not everyone does. Additionally, we need to discover a compatible theme for both the screen (show or movie) and gaming worlds.

He mentions that for ‘Bridgerton’, something truly fitting the theme would be ideal. He won’t create an action-packed film with Bridgerton. Instead, he wonders about the dream you’d have if you were in the Bridgerton universe and how we could bring it to life. In other words, what would be your fantasy in the world of Bridgerton and how can we make that a reality?

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2025-03-27 22:49