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Reed Hastings

Netflix founder Reed Hastings stepping down as co-CEO

Founder of the famous Streaming Platform, Netflix, Reed Hastings is stepping down as CEO but will remain as the chairman, the corporation revealed on Thursday along with its earnings report.

Ted Sarandos who is the co-CEO will continue to stay in his position. Greg Peters who is most recently chief operating officer will take Hastings’ place as co-CEO. Peters will also enter the firm’s board of directors.

Reed Hastings
Image Source: techcrunch.com

I want to thank Reed for his visionary leadership, mentorship, and friendship over the last 20 years. We’ve all learned so much from his intellectual rigor, honesty, and willingness to take big bets — and we look forward to working with him for many more years to come,” said Sarandos in a written statement.

Source: cnbc.com

In 1997, Reed Hastings co-founded Netflix. Sarandos was named co-CEO along with Hastings in July 2020, during the same time Peters was named COO. The firm did not say if it would fill the position of COO.

Reed Hastings declared on Thursday that he will remain as executive chairman for several more years to come. He steps down as the streaming behemoth tries several moves to increase subscribers as well as recover from a slump in recent quarters.

Hastings wrote in a blog post on Thursday that period of the past two and a half years “was a baptism by fire, given COVID and recent challenges within our business.”

Source: cnbc.com

Reed Hastings steps down as CEO on the day the firm reports 223 million paid users worldwide. The firm is now a major player in content creation as well as distribution, and it lately bargained a limited theatrical release for Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion film.

It’s also rising its gaming business, beginning with mobile titles and hinting at bigger plans in the works.

The leadership transition occurs as Netflix introduces ad-supported streaming and tightens password and account sharing limitations. Both actions were publicly opposed by Hastings till last season’s drop in users, the first in a decade going back to the Qwikster debacle, compelled the company to reconsider its stances.

Bela Bajaria, the firm’s global head of television, will also take over as chief content officer as part of the executive shuffle. Scott Stuber, the former head of global film, will take over as chairman of Netflix Film.

The leadership declaration coincides with the release of the firm’s fourth-quarter earnings report. Netflix met Wall Street’s revenue expectations while adding millions more subscribers than expected.

AAA PC game

Netflix is working on ‘brand-new’ AAA PC game

According to numerous reports, Netflix may soon develop a brand new AAA PC game.

According to Mobilegamer.biz, Netflix has posted over a dozen job openings for its Los Angeles branch of Netflix Games Studio on its website. Netflix is specifically looking for a game director to engage in “a brand-new AAA PC game.”

AAA PC game
Image Source: tribune.com.pk

Netflix posted job openings at its newly announced Southern California games studio for a game director, art director, and technical director. The platform is seeking a “creative leader of one of Netflix’s first generation of internally developed original games” for the post of game director.

AAA projects are prominent games in the video gaming industry with very huge budgets and production teams. The task of creating an environment, characters, and storyline that is deserving of a Netflix movie or TV series will fall to the game director. There aren’t many details available since it is an unreleased project.

The company noted in its job openings, “We’re looking for a creative and highly-skilled Game Director to help us forge the game direction and creative vision on a brand-new AAA PC game. As Game Director, you will be the creative leader of one of Netflix’s first generation of internally developed original games.

You will provide the vision and direction for the game from the concept phase, through production, launch, and live operations. The right candidate will bring industry-leading craft expertise and attention to detail to generate the vision for a game that is high quality, emotionally resonant, iconic, and full of heart.

Creating a great game that players want to come back to repeatedly is our primary goal – you will be able to create, ship, and run a game without any competing design constraints due to monetization. ”

Netflix has been concentrating on expanding its mobile division up until now. The company now has plans to increase its PC gaming presence with fresh acquisitions after recently acquiring Spry Fox, the developer of Cozy Grove. In November of last year, the streaming juggernaut began making its mobile games available to users of Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Currently, the company has 40 distinct games available. There are many spin-off games themed on well-known Netflix series like Stranger Things, as well as card games, original games, and timeless mobile games like running and racing games. Right now, Netflix’s gaming business model is fairly straightforward.

One can download and play every game in the Netflix game library if they have a Netflix subscription. Additionally, the platform was developing features that would enable users to compete with one another in its mobile games and place themselves on gaming scoreboards in August.

The sum of money that Netflix has already committed to supporting AAA PC games is still unclear. However, it takes a lot of time and resources to create AAA games. Crucible, the initial attempt by Amazon, was infamously unsuccessful. Google closed down Stadia Games & Entertainment before the studio had an opportunity to produce an AAA-level game on Stadia.

Stranger Things

Netflix Announces “Stranger Things” VR Game for 2023

The fourth season of Stranger Things will be the basis for a virtual reality (VR) game being developed by Netflix and Tender Claws. As per Netflix, the VR game will launch on all leading VR platforms by the winter of 2023.

Stranger Things
Image Source: game-news24.com

Stranger Things is without a doubt the most watched TV program on Netflix ever because of its mind-blowing plot, nostalgic 1980s atmosphere, and breathtaking cinematography. Despite the TV show’s overwhelming praise, its IP has not yet been diversified into other platforms, till Netflix recently revealed that a Stranger Things VR game is currently being developed by Tender Claws Studio and will be accessible on all mainstream VR platforms in 2023.

The new Stranger Things VR was unveiled during the Stranger Things Day 2022 celebrations with a brief teaser that included the grandfather clock ticking, demogorgons, and even a cameo by Eleven. Netflix ended the Stranger Things Day 2022 by tweeting the name of the first episode i.e THE CRAWL of Season 5 of “Stranger Things.”

In order to wreak vengeance on Eleven and Hawkins, the gamers will be able to enter their brains and inflict nightmares. In the game, the players will play as Vecna, the villain in Stranger Things Season 4 and the upcoming Season 5. Netflix noted, “Play as Vecna in this new Stranger Things adventure in VR. Become an explorer of unknown realities as you form the hive mind and tame the void. Invade minds and conjure nightmares in your quest to enact revenge on Eleven and Hawkins.”

A preview of the game that Netflix has posted on YouTube suggests that it is a psychological action/horror game. The brief video teaser also demonstrates gameplay and the visual design of the game. Studio Tender Claws has earlier worked on games like The Under Presents: Tempest, George in the Tub, and Tender: Creature Comforts.

The Netflix original series “Stranger Things” is set in the fictional Indiana town of Hawkins. The story revolves around Hawkins’ US Department of Energy research facility conducting paranormal and otherworldly studies. During the same time that the institute abducts people to use in its experiments, a test subject named “Eleven” escapes the lab.

According to marketing company Nielsen, Stranger Things’ fourth season, which debuted on May 27, 2022, received 7.2 billion views between May and June. Variety reported that no other show has received more than 6 billion views in a single week. The prior front-runners Ozark and Tiger King only reached 5 billion in 2020. The fourth season of the show premiered with seven episodes in May, followed by two extended episodes in July.

Netflix has recently established its very own internal development studio, the fourth to join the Netflix family, marking a significant expansion in the video game industry. It will have its main office in Finland, and be in charge of developing unique new experiences for subscribers. As a publisher, Netflix’s Stranger Things VR will be the first title to not be released exclusively on smartphones, signaling the arrival on new platforms.

basic with ads

Netflix to charge $6.99 a month for ‘Basic With Ads’ Plan

Beginning in November, the American streaming provider Netflix will launch a new, inexpensive tier subscription “basic with ads” that is supported by advertisements.

basic with ads
Image Source: financialexpress.com

In twelve nations, Netflix will launch a subscription model in November that is subsidized by advertisements as the company attempts to increase sales and subscriber numbers. The subscription, dubbed “basic with ads,” will cost $6.99 in the US, $3 cheaper than the country’s basic option without advertisements.

Netflix battled user churn after suffering the largest-ever quarterly decline in subscribers recently in June. This new model will soon launch in Brazil, Australia, Britain, Britain, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, France, and the United States. This ad-supported subscription is a first for Netflix. This move is a significant change for a company that pioneered the concept of ad-free membership-based streaming.

Users of Netflix’s “Basic with ads” tier won’t be able to download films and television shows, and there will often be four or five minutes of adverts every hour. Due to licensing limitations, a few TV shows and films will initially be inaccessible.

Before and throughout Netflix’s content, there will be 15-30 second advertisements. Firms will be able to stop adverts from showing up on content they consider objectionable or nasty. Nielsen, a rating business, will start using its Digital Ad Ratings in the United States in 2023 to assist marketers in understanding its reach.

When Disney+’s ad tier debuts in December, it will cost $7.99 per month, while Hulu will cost $7.99. Netflix is less expensive at $6.99 per month. The monthly cost of HBO Max with advertisements is $9.99.

Netflix has set the price of the service such that any customers who convert from the ad-free standard plan to the ad-supported plan will have a “neutral to positive” impact on the business’s income. This indicates Netflix will earn at least $3 in advertising income per customer each month.

Instead of 1080p, the resolution of Netflix’s normal plan, which costs $15.49 per month, the video resolution for the ad-tier plan will be 720p. The company’s entry-level plan, which features 720p resolution but no advertising, costs $9.99 per month.

Netflix referred to the new tier as “pro-consumer” during a press conference where it unveiled it. It also revealed that its inner content tagging specialists were charged with locating natural breakpoints in numerous series and movies to insert adverts in.

As reported by The Verge, Netflix’s ad tier is a reaction to an unexpected slump for the streaming service, which earlier this year lost over a million users in the United States and Canada. The company also saw a decline in its stock price as a result of investor doubts that its phase of significant growth has come to an end.

Although the company has stated that it aims to roll out the new ad tier in more countries over time, India is not among the 12 countries wherein Netflix is first introducing the ad-supported plan. Given the price-sensitive character of the Indian market, it is important to note that Netflix offers some of the most affordable subscription plans when compared to its offerings in other regions.

Netflix plans in India start at Rs 149, or roughly $2 per month for phone devices only. The cheapest Netflix subscription in India starts at Rs 199 per month, which translates to about $2.6 per month for other devices such as smart televisions. The “regular” version of the streaming service costs Rs 499 per month in India, offers high-definition content streaming across two devices, and is ad-free.

three exclusive mobile games

Netflix and Ubisoft Join Hands for Three Mobile-Exclusive Games

The renowned and greatly accustomed American Video Streaming platform, Netflix, declared on Monday, 12 September 2020, that it is partnering up with Ubisoft, a French video game firm, to introduce three exclusive mobile games to its platform initiating in next year, 2023.

The popular streaming giant is eager to integrate smartphone games into its ecosystem and is providing several casual mobile games on its mobile application already. Also, it has no plans to abandon its game division any time soon, even though it was not successful in attracting a large no of audience of gamers. According to a report by Apptopia, Last month it attracted 1.7 million users per day.

three exclusive mobile games
Image Source: latestly.com

The French video game firm, Ubisoft declared its partnership with the Netflix during Ubisoft Forward 2022 event. It stated that they will be working on three games that will expand on Mighty Quest, The Valiant Hearts, and Assassin’s Creed universes. These games will be exclusively available on mobile only to Netflix members across the globe together with no ads and in-app purchases.

Talking about the mobile game partnership, Netflix’s Vice President of Games, Mike Verdu, said, “We’re thrilled to work with Ubisoft, whose track record creating memorable worlds for fans is unmatched. This partnership will provide our members with exclusive access to some of the most exciting game franchises as we continue to build a catalog of great mobile games for our members around the world.”

“As we continue to create great experiences on all platforms, we are glad to be partnering with such an innovative and creative partner as Netflix,” said Jean-Michel Detoc, Chief Mobile Officer, Ubisoft. “I believe that this partnership will be a great opportunity for Netflix members to further explore our worlds and universes on mobile.

Source: easternmirrornagaland.com

Netflix and Ubisoft Partnership

Netflix and Ubisoft, both are working on three elite games for mobile that is based on renowned Ubisoft Titles.

The original core team is in command of the next Valiant Heart game which came after Valiant Hearts: The Great War, Ubisoft’s multi-award-winning game, which will contain the same DNA, even though there will be a new plot this time. It will be available to Netflix users in 2023 and you can expect high quality for the game.

The second game, Mighty Quest, will also be launched on Netflix in 2023 and at the current time, the game will take inspiration from the rogue-like subgenre to develop an extraordinary and remarkably engaging game experience for users that virtue the series’ primary hack and slash combat. 

Apart from this prior announced live-action series, a new mobile game is also being developed particularly for Netflix, so fans of Assassin’s Creed Game will have more than one opportunity to submerse themselves in the Assassin’s Creed universe on the streaming platform. This is the third game that will be developed by Netflix and Ubisoft in this collaboration.

If you didn’t have any information about the Netflix games until now, it is to inform you that it lets its subscribers download the selected games through the Netflix application for free and the best part is there are no in-app purchases and ads. Therefore, if you have a Netflix subscription, you can check it out. The firm is targeting to add up to 50 new titles by the end of the year according to a report.

“Netflix doesn’t take a lot of big shots like this but when they do, they back them, and they’re committed to them,” said Verdu. “And they understand that the journey may be a long one, especially with games, where it takes years to make games.”

Source: arabnews.com
Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time Shuts Down Making It A Big Win For Netflix.

Popcorn Time is once known as the “Napster of movies”, has reached the end of its usefulness. Since the app’s initial launch in 2014, the entertainment landscape has changed dramatically. When there are affordable, convenient, and legal alternatives, the public, like with music, has shown a willingness to pay for content. Today’s announcement was prompted by the multitude of streaming video services available to consumers.

Since going public in 2014, Popcorn Time has been avoiding legal closures due to various laws against content piracy. The crackdown was so severe that the streaming service on the Popcorn Time website was discontinued years ago. After that, it managed to stay afloat as an app. Because the service was based on open-source code, it was frequently mentioned by developers online.

Popcorn Time
Image source: tosshub.com

Naturally, this was a major source of concern for Netflix and other streaming services, which were losing money as a result of their original content being streamed for free. Large movie releases have also moved to the digital space since the pandemic began. One of the product’s developers told Torrent Freak shortly after the launch that everyone who worked on Popcorn Time was a big movie fan and that most of them had Netflix accounts. The developer believed that seeing a movie in a theater was the best way to experience it, but that isn’t always possible, which is why Popcorn Time was created.
The graph on the Popcorn Time website offers a unique perspective on the events that have occurred. Because it was not legal repercussions that forced Popcorn Time to close, Netflix and others must have brilliantly captured the digital content space for the average user to lose interest in the free service.

“We’re disappointed that we won’t be able to watch some movies at home. Popcorn Time is an experiment to show that you can do something better for the users with BitTorrent,” the developer explained.

source: https://www.techspot.com/

Naturally, Hollywood was not impressed with this concept, and the original app was quickly removed. Supporters persisted, and multiple forks were eventually developed to keep the concept alive. There would be a slew of legal challenges, but that would not be the service’s demise.
The Popcorn Time team told Torrent Freak that the service was shut down due to a lack of interest from the pirating community. One of the other reasons is the simplicity of the pricing plans. Netflix slashed the prices of its subscription plans in India just last month. The most affordable plan in the bunch now starts at Rs 149, but it comes with its own set of restrictions. It’s easy to see why people would prefer to pay such high prices to watch pirated content.

The team noted, “It’s time to say goodbye.” “Popcorn Time is no longer required in the world.” Though the battle for streaming giants is far from over, there are still a number of other places where pirated content can be found that need to be shut down. The way they handle these issues will be interesting to watch.