Netflix is reportedly interested in adding Grand Theft Auto to its games catalogue

Netflix is reportedly interested in adding a Grand Theft Auto game to its subscription service.

That’s according to a Wall Street Journal report, which claims the streaming giant wants to take a page out of its Hollywood playbook by licensing major third-party properties to complement its burgeoning first-party catalogue.

According to unnamed sources, over the next few months Netflix subscribers will be able to play mobile games based on its hit properties including Squid Game and Wednesday, while the company is also exploring games based on Extraction, Black Mirror and its Sherlock Holmes series.

However, even as its first-party line-up grows, Netflix will continue to offer popular third-party games like Bloons TD 6 and Classic Solitaire, and it has reportedly discussed releasing a game within the Grand Theft Auto series through a licensing deal with Rockstar owner Take-Two.

Netflix began offering subscribers access to a library of mobile games through the Android and iOS versions of its app in late 2021. However, it’s also expanding into higher-end games that can be streamed from TVs or PCs.

It launched a cloud gaming service in limited beta form in August. It supports two games, the first-party title Oxenfree from Night School Studio, and Molehew’s gem-mining arcade game Mining Adventure.

Players use their smartphone as a controller to play games on TV, while members can play using a keyboard and mouse on PC and Mac.

Further reading

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Netflix says it has 40 more game releases lined up for 2023

Including Ubisoft's Mighty Quest: Rogue Palace and a new Too Hot To Handle game

Netflix is also working on an original, multiplatform, triple-A game at a recently established studio in California, which is led by Overwatch executive producer Chacko Sonny.

The team includes the studio’s creative director Joseph Staten, the Halo veteran who left Microsoft in March, and art director Raf Grassetti, who previously held the same position at God of War developer Santa Monica Studio.