Netflix released its July mobile game slate yesterday, adding a range of new titles. One game, in particular, called “Before Your Eyes,” uses eye-tracking technology that advances the story whenever the camera detects you blink. Netflix also launched “Mahjong Solitaire” on July 26.
“Into the Breach” is also part of this month’s slate. The mobile version, exclusive to the streamer, has been available on the Netflix app since July 19.
Netflix knows it needs to up its game (pun intended) and up its mobile game business to become a serious contender in the market. It’s likely that Netflix chose “Into the Breach” because it’s a high-profile, award-winning game. The indie hit won Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2018, so it’s no wonder Netflix wants to get its hands on the title.
“Into the Breach” is a tactical strategy game that challenges players to assemble a team of pilots and robots and engage in turn-based battles against an alien enemy.
Recently, “Into the Breach” got an Advanced Edition update on PC, Switch, and Stadia. Along with five new squads, 15 achievements, nearly 40 new weapons, a dozen missions and more, the new Advanced Edition also offers users seven new languages: Arabic, Thai, Swedish, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Turkish and Spanish (American Latin). ). Netflix informed TechCrunch that the mobile version contains the same content.
“Before Your Eyes” is a critically acclaimed adventure track that originally launched in 2021 on Microsoft Windows. The game tells the story of Benjamin Brynn, a recently deceased man who meets The ferryman responsible for transporting souls to the afterlife.
Netflix offers the game’s exclusive mobile debut, allowing players to experience Brynn’s memories by using the mobile device’s camera to capture player blinks. The player starts with his early childhood, blinks, then moves on to other key moments.
The PC version also uses eye tracking technology, but requires a webcam which not all users may have. Players can choose to play with a mouse and click instead of blink. Netflix is offering the game to its subscribers who may not have the equipment to play the game on a computer, but still want to try out the cool tech.
As we all know, blinking is an involuntary mechanism, so gamers may find it frustrating to have a staring contest with their phone in order to watch a particular scene. But the game plays on this notion of “life passing before your eyes”. So if you miss something, well, isn’t that just life slipping away in the blink of an eye?
For players who don’t want to cry uncontrollably, “Mahjong Solitaire” is a simple single-player tile-matching game that features 300 puzzles as well as daily challenges and achievements. The game also has different themes and backgrounds, such as the reverse of “Stranger Things”.
Netflix games were launched in 2021, and currently there are more than 25 games available. The company said it wants to release over 50 games by the end of the year.
To play a Netflix mobile game, subscribers can find them for free in the Netflix streaming app in the games row. Subscribers can play the games on Android and iOS devices.
The streamer offers simple games to pass the time, such as “Shooting Hoops” and “Bowling Ballers.” There are also original games based on its own properties, including “Stranger Things”, “The Queen’s Gambit”, and “Money Heist”.
Netflix has acquired three game studios so far, such as “Dungeon Boss” creator Boss Fight Entertainment; Night School Studio, known for the supernatural track “Oxenfree”; and Next Games (“Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales”).
In April, the streamer announced that it would be releasing an “Exploding Kittens” mobile game and an anime series based on the popular card game. It was the first time that Netflix released a game alongside a TV series from the same franchise.
The company explained in January during its fourth quarter earnings call that gaming is its way of understanding what content Netflix subscribers want. “We believe now is the time to learn more about how our members are enjoying games,” the company said. The streaming service hopes the games will be valuable enough to keep existing subscribers sticking around and to help drive new subscriptions.
Netflix has yet to reveal the performance of its games. The company told TechCrunch that it does not disclose player counts.
It’s debatable whether any of these titles are enough to attract new subscribers or justify that hard-to-swallow subscription price. In its latest earnings report, Netflix revealed a subscriber loss of 970,000, or nearly one million, and its biggest quarterly loss ever.