Netflix is planning an expansion into video games and has hired a former Electronic Arts and Facebook executive to lead the effort, Bloomberg reports. Mike Verdu will join Netflix as vice president of game development, reporting to COO Greg Peters, the company confirmed. He was previously Facebook’s vice president in charge of working with developers to bring games and other content to Oculus virtual-reality headsets.
The idea is to offer video games on Netflix’s streaming platform within the next year, one person familiar with the situation said. The games will appear as a new programming genre, at no extra charge.
According to the report, the games are expected to provide a boost for Netflix, especially in markets where its growth has slowed, such as the US. The games may complement some of its shows and films, and help replace some of the content lost to other streaming services. It also differentiates the service more from live pay-TV, which is more focused on sports.
With Verdu, the company has an executive who worked on popular mobile games at Electronic Arts, including titles in the Sims, Plants vs. Zombies and Star Wars franchises. He also served as chief creative officer for Zynga between 2009 and 2012. Additional gaming talent will be added in the coming months, and the company has already started advertising for game-development related positions on its website.
