Summary
- Squid Game: Unleashed, a new Netflix game, launches on Dec 17 for iOS & Android, free for all players.
- Netflix is expanding gaming efforts; Squid Game: Unleashed joins Street Fighter and Civilization.
- Netflix promotes game tie-ins with Squid Game 2 & partnerships with Call of Duty and Xbox.
Squid Game: Unleashed, the official game based on the popular Netflix series Squid Game, is scheduled to roll out for iOS and Android users on December 17. Developed by Netflix Games, Squid Game: Unleashed is the streaming giant’s latest IP to get the video game treatment, after other top shows like Stranger Things. However, unlike previous games, it will not be exclusive to Netflix subscribers at launch.
Over the past few years, Netflix has been steadily ramping up its efforts in gaming, acquiring various developers and hiring top execs to build its game division. During this time, it has adapted popular shows, such as Money Heist and Narcos, into games and added them as one of the subscription benefits. On the other hand, popular games, including GTA: San Andreas and Hades, have also been made available to Netflix subscribers. Most recently, the OTT leader has been busy promoting its forthcoming game, Squid Game: Unleashed, which releases right before the second season of Squid Game.
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At The Game Awards 2024, Netflix unveiled a new trailer of Squid Game: Unleashed, giving fans another look at the game’s various levels, such as the glass bridge, inspired by the original work. The presentation also revealed that the online multiplayer title will be free for everyone for a limited time when it launches on the Play Store and the App Store on December 17. This means that, unlike prior Netflix games, even non-subscribers will be able to play Squid Game: Unleashed. On top of that, the game, which is currently open for pre-registration, won’t contain any ads or in-app purchases either, similar to other games released by Netflix.
Squid Game: Unleashed Joins Netflix’s Growing List of Video Games
Squid Game: Unleashed, which will have up to 32 players competing to win the virtual prize, is another eye-catching addition to Netflix’s catalog of games. The quickly growing list already boasts popular game IPs, including Street Fighter, Civilization, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Tomb Raider, with more expected to follow. This understanding is based on Netflix’s earnings report from July, in which it shared that more than 80 games were in development for the streaming platform.
This video game tie-in, which releases before Squid Game 2‘s arrival on December 26, isn’t the only game-related collaboration Netflix is leveraging to build up hype for the new season. Earlier this month, Call of Duty announced its Squid Game partnership, which brings certain themed content to Black Ops 6 and Warzone as part of the special arrangement. Besides that, there’s also an incoming team-up with Xbox that will let players get their hands on Squid Game edition controllers, starting from December 20.