A Fresh Grand Theft Auto Edition Might Arrive on Netflix Games

A new iteration of the renowned Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series might be heading towards Netflix's gaming platform, but it's not GTA 6. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, streaming mogul Netflix intends to acquire a share of the robust GTA franchise, with plans to introduce a unique GTA game on its gaming service called Netflix Games. This intention follows the company's ongoing strategy of leveraging its library of original intellectual properties within the gaming realm post-acquisition of multiple game development studios. The report indicates that Netflix discussed plans to launch a GTA game on its service using a licensing deal with Take-Two Interactive, the game's publisher. However, the nature and developer of the proposed game remain undisclosed.

Currently, Netflix's game portfolio is only accessible via its mobile app, indicating that any GTA spin-off would most likely be a mobile game. But, Netflix is understood to hope for a future expansion of its gaming library that includes games capable of being streamed on TVs or PCs. According to an analyst, Netflix has so far spent approximately $1 billon on games and looks to recruit more game executives to aid its entrance into AAA games. The company's gaming investment payoff is unclear since the games are incorporated into Netflix subscriptions and not marketed as standalone purchases. As for subscription statistics, there isn't any information indicating whether games are successful in persuading people to subscribe.

Existing subscribers do not seem particularly attracted to the games, with a total of 70.5 million downloads as of September 20. Although a significant figure, it pales in comparison to the staggering download numbers of the largest mobile games worldwide. For reference, Honkai: Star Rail harvested over 20 million downloads on its launch day earlier this year. Furthermore, Apptopia estimates reveal that fewer than 1% of Netflix subscribers play its games daily. This statistic isn't surprising due to the availability of much of its game catalog, featuring prestigious titles like Oxenfree, Immortality, Spiritfarer, and others, elsewhere.

The gaming landscape for Netflix hasn't seen much change since we wrote about its aggressive push into video games earlier this year. A significant GTA release on its platform could shift the status quo but it could potentially also be eclipsed by a future release of GTA 6 by another company.