Netflix: An Entertainment Juggernaut

Netflix metaverse gets its first virtual reality game

Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash

Disclaimer: This article is my fictional imagination of Netflix’s future written from the year 2025.

September 29, 2025

First virtual reality video game coming soon in the Netflixland metaverse. The roadmap tease on Twitter this morning signals Netflix’s commitment to both gaming and the metaverse. Since the successful launch of Netflix original games in late 2022, the company has been consistently releasing major hits every quarter. The roadmap suggests the company’s last game of 2025 will be a virtual reality game in Netflixland. The addition of gaming to the company’s metaverse complements the existing Netflix Cinema and Stadium offerings.

Has Netflix cemented itself as the entertainment juggernaut of the 21st century? Let’s briefly recount the company’s past five years of explosive growth thanks to their pivotal venture into gaming and the metaverse.

Dominating Hollywood

In 2021, Netflix proved itself as a top competitor in Hollywood.

New Movies. Every Week. On Netflix. That was the headline initiative of Netflix as the world moved into its second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The production company was consistently delivering quality content and entertainment during a time when many were stuck at home and bored. Coupled with the fact that by this time, Netflix had a slew of hit series that premiered throughout the year, it was hard to argue Netflix’s rising dominance in the industry. The final seal of approval was when Hollywood A-listers started getting involved behind and in front of the screen which started to legitimize Netflix during industry award ceremonies with wins and nominations.

New Game. Every Quarter. On Netflix.

In late 2021, observant subscribers would have noticed a new row for games in the Netflix mobile app. No one realized the company’s true intentions behind this innocent dabble into the gaming industry. They launched with five simple mobile games. It wasn’t until September 2022 that Netflix’s gaming strategy became apparent. Catching many by surprise, Netflix dropped a video trailer on their website and YouTube channel for Stranger Things: The Game. The quality looked comparable to that of an Xbox or Playstation exclusive title. A month later, the company released the game, playable through the TV app. The revolutionary announcement made headline news as this was the first instance of a high production game played through a TV app — not requiring a console like the Sony Playstation, Microsoft Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. The game did require a controller, which cost customers only $9.99. Netflix heavily subsidized the price of the controller for customers as their vision in gaming wasn’t making money off controllers nor any in-app purchases, but rather simply to add more value to their ever-increasing subscription price. Netflix customers began seeing the promotions within the app of the company’s first major game and were prompted in-app if they would like to order the Netflix gaming controller — the one-time cost would be added to the customer’s next bill. 

A month after the release of the Stranger Things game, the company reported that an astounding 70% of their customers have ordered at least one controller. With raving five-star reviews and impressive user playtime reports, the company also saw a spike in new subscriptions and platform usage. The successful launch catapulted Netflix front and center into the gaming industry and the rest is history.

Since the 2022 launch, Netflix has released a total of twelve original games — one each quarter — that leveraged the company’s portfolio of original content with genres available across the spectrum much like their selection of original films, TV series, documentaries, and reality shows.

With today’s roadmap tease, customers are anticipating Netflix’s first virtual reality game, available in Netflixland. There are currently no details about the game yet, but if it’s anything like their Netflixland Cinema and Stadium, a VR headset will likely be required.

Netflixland

On May 8, 2023, the company launched the Netflixland metaverse. The company’s virtual reality world — accessed through their website or app on mobile or TV— is where users enter the world with their avatar and can engage in various virtual entertainment offerings. Netflixland added a social and VR component to the Netflix experience. The flagship experiences included at launch were the Cinema and Stadium. A Netflix subscription was not required, however, Netflix subscribers got free passes or steep discounts at minimum to a variety of the metaverse’s experiences.

The Cinema offered a new way to watch Netflix movies and TV series: in VR and socially. Every new movie and series premiere was accompanied by Cinema showtimes. These were VR rooms where users invite their friends and family to watch with them. Wearing a VR headset, you would see and speak to your friends — who appeared as their avatar — seated next to you. As you watch the movie or series, you and your friends can react verbally and physically as you turn to them and comment. Users have the option to choose a public or private showing. In the public showings, you would be randomly seated beside another user who you may befriend if you wished. The private showings were geared towards people who wanted the VR experience but by themselves or just with their invited attendees. If you’re wondering how distracting the experience might be, no worries as Netflix thankfully included a mute option. After the showing, Cinema-goers have the option to move into the discussion lobby — usually themed with the content they just watched — to discuss with others.

Starting early this year, users can pay to set up or attend on-demand Cinema showings to watch any Netflix content of their choice and invite up to 20 guests. The Netflixland Cinema experience is currently one of the top activities across any metaverse. The company continues to heavily invest in this experience with enhanced features and most notably, with the stars of the movie or TV series attending public showings during the premiere day. Almost every movie and series premiere continues to have at least one star or someone who worked on the production attend and interact with public Cinema viewers. One shining example is the entire cast of Bridgerton who attended every season premiere showing since season 3 in 2023. Not only did the cast attend the showing but they interacted with viewers in the post-show discussion lobby.

The Stadium offered immersive front-row experiences to sporting events, concerts, and other special events. Users can purchase a virtual front-row experience for a price or opt for the free on-demand version usually available after 3 hours depending on the event. One feature Stadium event earlier this year was Billie Eilish’s Stadium exclusive live concert. Every attendee experienced the concert front row. Billie even interacted with attendees for a full hour extra afterward. Another high-profile event the Stadium offered was a virtual front-row experience for last year’s inauguration of the 60th president of the United States.

Netflix has made bold strides in the past five years. Establishing themselves across the Hollywood, gaming, and metaverse industry, their status as an entertainment juggernaut is hard to dispute. It’ll be exciting to see how Netflix continues to innovate.