Last week, Netflix Gaming formally launched in a way we didn’t predict when the service was first teased earlier this year. Instead of churning out games for home consoles or creating a cloud-based streaming support a la Google Stadia and others, Netflix opted to create a smartphone-exclusive gaming portal, free to anyone who has a paid Netflix subscription.
What’s more, Netflix Gaming’s day-one library consisted entirely of games that had previously launched on Android, with a mix of licensed Stranger Things games and generic tap-action smartphone fare. But game development exec Mike Verdu teased more in order to come: “Just like our series, films, and specials, we want to design games for any level associated with play and every kind regarding player, whether you’re a beginner or a lifelong gamer, ” he said at the time.
Today, Netflix takes the wraps off a more interesting game for its smartphone-only service: the previously unannounced League of Legends spinoff with promising gameplay and serious developer pedigree.