Netflix’s bet on gaming is paying off, as the success of the GTA Trilogy has proven that streaming and gaming can go hand in hand.
Netflix's venture into gaming continues to show promising results, with the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy remasters emerging as a standout success. During their recent Q4 2024 earnings call, Netflix Co-CEO Gregory Peters revealed that the GTA titles have generated tens of millions of downloads, with GTA San Andreas proving particularly popular among subscribers.
The streaming giant's gaming division has been making moves, balancing critically acclaimed original titles like Oxenfree II with high-profile licensed games. The GTA Trilogy's performance has been impressive, as it has amassed nearly 40 million downloads through the Netflix platform, with San Andreas claiming the lion's share of player interest.
While GTA III and GTA Vice City concluded their run on Netflix in December 2024, San Andreas continues to be available to subscribers. This sustained success appears to have bolstered Netflix's confidence in their gaming strategy, with Peters indicating plans to expand their portfolio of "recognizable mainstream titles" through both licensing deals and original content based on Netflix IP.
The exceptional performance of these classic Rockstar Games titles on Netflix's platform offers confidence in the possibilities for future collaborations. However, it's worth keeping in mind that GTA represents Rockstar's crown jewel franchise, and San Andreas in particular has maintained its popularity for decades, making it a unique case study in the streaming service's gaming experiment.
Netflix's gaming division appears to be following a two-pronged approach, namely securing high-profile licensed content while also developing original games. This strategy mirrors their successful approach to video content, where they provide subscribers with both original productions and licensed entertainment.
