Streaming service Netflix doesn’t see a future in just remaining a streaming platform. That’s why the company has bought up a studio and released a game or two. It doesn’t appear to be gaining the traction Netflix would like, but that isn’t slowing anything down.
The company is testing out so-called “game handles”, otherwise known as gamertags. If you’ve ever owned an Xbox, PlayStation, or PC, a gamertag is the (usually) pseudonymous title you’re known by when playing a game online. Generally, these have some deeper meaning, refer to a cannabis habit, or are auto-generated. Either way, Netflix is trialling these for mobile games now.
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First spotted by a developer named Steve Moser, game handles are in testing for some Netflix games. These include Into the Breach, Bowling Ballers, Heads Up!, and Mahjong Solitaire.
For now, it’s just the ability to rename yourself online. This ensures, says the company, that others won’t see your regular Netflix profile name and icon while you’re playing. But there are a few familiar features also in the works.
These include the ability to invite others to play with you, and the introduction of leaderboards. Lobbies and live streams can’t be far behind. But that will first require more than two dozen games at the company’s disposal.
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The streaming giant hasn’t denied any of these upcoming features. It didn’t confirm anything either. Spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka, speaking to TechCrunch, said, “We are always looking to improve our member’s experience on the service and are exploring different features to enrich the Netflix mobile games experience. We don’t have anything else to share at this time.”
Source: TechCrunch