Netflix has announced it will begin testing mobile games inside its Android application for users in Poland. At launch, paying subscribers will be able to try out two games, 'Stranger Things: 1984' and 'Stranger Things 3'. These titles were previously available on the Apple App Store, Google Play and, in the case of the newer release, on other platforms, including desktop and consoles.
While the games are offered to subscribers from within the Netflix mobile app’s center tab, users will still be directed to the Google Play Store to install the game on their devices. To then play, members will need to confirm their Netflix credentials. Members can later return to the game at any time by clicking “Play” on the game’s page from inside the Netflix app or by launching it directly from their mobile device.
With the launch of the test in Poland, Netflix says users will need to have a membership to download the titles as they’re now exclusively available to subscribers. However, existing users who already downloaded the game from Google Play in the past will not be impacted. They will be able to play the game as usual or even re-download it from their account library if they used to have it installed. But new players will only be able to get the game from the Netflix app.
The test aims to better understand how mobile gaming will resonate with Netflix members and determine what other improvements Netflix may need to make to the overall functionality, the company said. It chose Poland as the initial test market because it has an active mobile gaming audience, which made it seem like a good fit for this early feedback.
Netflix couldn’t say when it would broaden this test to other countries, beyond the coming months, the Verge reported.
