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is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.
Netflix has made family-friendly titles a key part of its current games strategy, and now it’s pushing a little harder with the launch of a new app. Called Netflix Playground, the app is focused on games aimed at kids aged eight and under, and, like the rest of Netflix’s gaming lineup, Playground games are included as part of a Netflix subscription, and feature no ads or in-app purchases.
Playground is available now in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand, and will be rolling out to the rest of the world on April 28th. The launch lineup primarily consists of titles based on popular kids shows like Peppa Pig and Sesame Street (which is also now streaming on Netflix). “We’re creating a seamless destination for discovery, learning, and play,” John Derderian, Netflix’s VP of Animation Series + Kids & Family TV, said in a statement.
The launch of Playground comes as Netflix is attempting to focus its gaming efforts, moving away from indie games and ambitious projects like Spry Fox’s MMO Spirit Crossing. In addition to family-friendly games, the streaming service is now also exploring cloud-based TV games, including an upcoming FIFA game launching in time with the World Cup.
While Netflix first added games to its service in 2021, the efforts have so far failed to gain much traction, despite some high-profile launches like Grand Theft Auto. There have been several major stumbles as well, including multiple studio closures like Boss Fight, the team behind the hit Squid Game: Unleashed, and a mysterious AAA studio that shut down before ever launching a game. In 2025, Netflix’s president of games Alain Tascan outlined a new strategy that included pillars like TV and family-friendly games. “We need to find our voice,” he told me at the time.
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