Since its initial foray into video games in 2021, Netflix has experienced a relatively modest response from subscribers. However, recent data suggests that its strategic collaboration with Rockstar to bring Grand Theft Auto (GTA) to the streaming service has proven to be a lucrative move. In December 2023, monthly mobile game downloads surged nearly threefold to 28 million.
According to Mobilegamer.biz, drawing on data from Appmagic (courtesy of VGC), Netflix’s monthly game downloads on both iOS and Android platforms rose from approximately 10 million in November to around 28 million in December.
This significant increase is directly attributed to the introduction of Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas in their Definitive Edition forms on December 14th of the previous year.
Appmagic’s statistics reveal that San Andreas emerged as the most popular game among Netflix subscribers, with 11.6 million downloads. In comparison, Vice City garnered 4.1 million downloads, while GTA 3 secured 2.4 million downloads.
Collectively, these figures amount to 18.1 million downloads from the GTA series, indicating an additional 10 million downloads in December originated from non-GTA games—a figure consistent with Netflix’s November download metrics.
This surge in game downloads is undoubtedly a victory for Netflix. Official figures from the company in August 2022 indicated that only around 1 percent of its then 221 million subscribers were engaging with game downloads.
With 28 million downloads from its current approximately 274 million-strong membership base, it suggests that as much as 11 percent of Netflix users are now actively participating in gaming.
This positive trend is particularly noteworthy for Netflix, which has made substantial investments in the gaming industry since its initial foray in November 2021. Over the years, the gaming catalog has expanded to encompass more than 80 titles.
Notable studio acquisitions, such as Spry Fox (developer of Triple Town and Cozy Grove), Next Games (developer of The Walking Dead mobile game), and Night School Studio (creator of Oxenfree), showcase Netflix’s commitment to strengthening its gaming portfolio.
The establishment of a new Los Angeles studio, led by former Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny, underscores the streaming giant’s ambition to develop a new triple-A, third-person RPG for PC, as demonstrated by the release of Oxenfree 2 last year.
While most of Netflix’s games currently require downloading, the company has been experimenting with a limited game streaming beta.
The ultimate goal is to make its extensive gaming catalog accessible on all compatible devices, including mobile phones, TVs, and computers. Although initial testing featured only Oxenfree and Molehew’s Mining Adventure, Netflix’s strategic moves in the gaming industry continue to evolve.
