Netflix Partners with External Developers to Enhance Gaming Experience

The highly anticipated game, The Queen's Gambit Chess, is now available on the Netflix mobile app, marking a significant milestone in the streaming giant's gaming endeavors. Developed by Rockwater Studios, a renowned internal development team of publisher Ripstone, this title is the result of a strategic partnership that began before Netflix officially announced its gaming ambitions in 2021. Ripstone, known for its premium quality chess titles like Pure Chess and Chess Ultra, saw an opportunity to create a game that would be a love letter to The Queen's Gambit series, which had sparked a surge in chess popularity worldwide. According to Leanne Loombe, Netflix's VP and head of external games, the company prefers partnerships where developers bring their own ideas and passion to the table, allowing for a more collaborative and creative process. The Queen's Gambit Chess offers a unique gaming experience, featuring beautifully detailed 3D chess pieces, locations from the show, and a campaign mode that follows the journey of chess prodigy Beth Harmon. The game's design aims to appeal to both fans of the series and new players, providing an approachable way to learn chess through interactive puzzles and visual assists. Netflix's consumer insights team played a crucial role in the game's development, working closely with the studio to test and refine the game through focus groups, surveys, and user testing. As Netflix continues to expand its gaming library, with over 30 new titles scheduled for release by the end of 2023, the company remains committed to its strategic approach, focusing on building a diverse portfolio of games that cater to various genres, engagement types, and member motivations. While the company acknowledges the importance of improving game discoverability, it is pleased with the current numbers and expects more members to engage with games as the service continues to grow and improve. Ultimately, Netflix aims to make games accessible on any device, leveraging cloud gaming technologies to provide a seamless gaming experience for its subscribers.