According to The Wall Street Journal, the company has had discussions about how to make money from its games for months now, including in-app purchases, putting a price tag on more premium titles and placing ads on games that subscribers to its ad tier have access to. These methods are common (and effective) in the mobile gaming world, with consumers expected to spend $111.4 billion on mobile games in 2024

The only reason Netflix games library is decent, its are not laid with ads or in-app purchases. If that was changed it would no longer make the experience enjoyable. Hopefully, they don’t.

  • @casual_turtle_stew_enjoyer@sh.itjust.works
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    2011 months ago

    This is truly absurd.

    Netflix basically bought the rights to republish versions of established mobile games as “Netflix Edition” titles with ads and in-app purchases removed as a value add to subscribers to get them into their games ecosystem. And now they want… to put ads and micro transactions back? I understand the reasoning behind it obviously-- they need a return on their investment-- but that is a clean about-face from their initial strategy

  • @Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
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    1911 months ago

    I think Netflix Games is stupid.

    I have a Netflix account.

    But to download a Google play game then to be told to log into my Netflix account or else uninstall? That’s stupid.

  • @qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one
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    1911 months ago

    So they are going to put ads and in-app purchases inside of a paid streaming app that also has ads? Games as part of Netflix only made sense if they were part of a value-add. Having the games individually having monetization completely invalidates paying for Netflix (aside from video).

    This is a dumb idea, and Netflix knows it. Sounds like an intentional plan to kill off their game segment.

  • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️
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    11 months ago

    If the ads fit in-world, like a Coke bilboard in a racing game or as is used in many games now the real product names of guns: I’m fine with that.

    If it’s a fuckin’ popup or splash page or something that isn’t actually part of the game itself, all subtle like: Fuck that.

    Given the mainstream popularity of video games, it makes a lot of sense to get sponsorships to place real world products in the game, the way it’s done on TV and movies. Subtle. Not all up in your face like Wayne’s World (at least that was a joke) or Death Stranding.

  • m-p{3}
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    911 months ago

    Capitalism, yet ruining another platform by trying to squeeze more money out of existing subscribers. It’s never enough.

  • @SomeGuy69@lemmy.world
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    811 months ago

    Into the breach is a good Netflix game. I found an APK online, it even works without my Netflix account, which is nice.

  • @net00@lemm.ee
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    611 months ago

    The fuck is the point then? you get to pay to have the privilege of paying more for a mobile game?

    All the netflix games I see are just shitty mobile games, nothing of value will be lost.

    • @TwilightVulpine@lemmy.world
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      211 months ago

      There are some pretty cool games that were ported to mobile by Netflix, like Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, but if they are going to inject ads and in-app purchases into them (you know, on top of the subscription), they are going to ruin them

  • @blindsight@beehaw.org
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    411 months ago

    I completely forgot about Netflix adding games. I assume it’s crap, but is it worth checking out? Has anyone actually used it?

    • @MoonlitSanguine@lemmy.one
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      611 months ago

      If you already pay for Netflix then there are a few decent games like Into the Breach. Most of it is garbage though.

    • @limerod@reddthat.comOPM
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      311 months ago

      The experience is decent. Asphalt extreme, dead cells, and many more. Premium gaming experience without ads or micro transactions. Some are also Netflix exclusive.

    • @Nath@aussie.zone
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      111 months ago

      I’ve only used the Asphalt Xtreme game, and it’s awesome. It’s like the old asphalt 6 days where you raced cars and didn’t need to worry about fuel or in-app micro transactions to progress.

      The only selling point to Netflix gaming is that there are no in-app purchases or ads. I can’t see any scenario where adding adds/micro transactions doesn’t immediately kill Netflix gaming.

      Frankly, I think this whole thing is a beat up for clicks.