Netflix’s Push Into Gaming Continues To Fall Short

Netflix has undertaken efforts over the years to increase its footprint in the world of video games, but it's been a bumpy road, and new data suggests that the company is falling short of its targets.

According to a Netflix memo seen by The Wall Street Journal, only 3.5% of Netflix's subscribers play games monthly. That's 10% behind Netflix's 2026 target for "reach and engagement" for games, the memo said. In 2022, it was reported that fewer than 1% of Netflix subscribers played games on Netflix.

Getting deeper into games is part of Netflix's effort to increase engagement, and it's not the only measure that Netflix has undertaken. The company has also expanded to live sports and podcasts.

Netflix's priorities for gaming have bounced around over the years. At one point in time, Netflix was planning to create AAA games and hired big-name talent. However, Netflix later backtracked, and today the company focuses more on mobile and social games.

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