Netflix Will Announce New Video Games At E3 2019

Streaming giant Netflix appears to have some game announcements to make soon, teasing appearances at E3 2019 next month. The studio will have a panel at the E3 Coliseum, and in advance of that event, it has dropped some hints about what it has up its sleeve--but without giving away any specifics regarding which of its shows or movies could be potentially in line for adaptations.

A tweet announcing the Coliseum panel says it will cover "news about its plans in the gaming space," and an attached image names the panel, "Bringing Your Favorite Shows To Life: Developing Netflix Originals Into Video Games." Similarly, a Twitter thread from Netflix's sci-fi and fantasy Twitter account mentioned the previously announced Stranger Things game adaptation paired with the upcoming Season 3, but also said, "there's definitely more to come!"

Now in its second year, E3 Coliseum is a main stage presentation that takes place at LA Live, adjacent to the LA Convention Center, hosted by Geoff Keighley. It's part of the ESA and E3's initiative to make E3 a more public-facing event. The traditional E3 press conferences are largely closed to the public, although EA's pre-E3 event, EA Play, is open to fans.

Netflix has approached games in two distinct ways. The first puts out narrative-driven experiences on its video streaming service, marked with an icon to note that it allows you to steer the direction of the story--like Minecraft: Story Mode and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. The other involves console and mobile releases of games based on Netflix properties, like the Stranger Things games.

The panel's title certainly seems to imply the latter, but then that raises the question of which properties are ripe for game adaptations. The NX brand tends to promote animated series like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and The Dragon Prince, along with live-action series like Umbrella Academy, and Altered Carbon.