One would expect Netflix to hop on this VR bandwagon at any given moment. That does not appear to be the case, for the time being. While their VR app is still available, the company is not looking to expand their content offering in this regard. For now, the technology is not a priority as of right now.
Netflix Holds off on VR Content
It is evident the VR ecosystem needs more quality content that doesn’t come in the form of gamers or experiences. Video content is something everyone can enjoy, and Netflix is one of the most popular video content providers as of right now. Several years ago the company launched a 360-degree app to watch their content in a virtual room. The app is available for the Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream as of right now.
As solid as those initial steps were, Netflix has not made any major strides since. The company will not change that attitude in the near future, as there is no reason to do so. Virtual reality is not a priority and the demand for dedicated VR content production simply isn’t there. For now, the company wants to see how the hardware evolves before making any further commitments.
No one will deny VR is mainly designed for gaming experiences rather than content watching or productivity. Although that situation can always change, it is not something that Netflix will benefit from as of right now. The wait-and-see approach may work in the company’s favor, as the hardware is seemingly not capable of providing seamless immersive viewing experiences as of right now. It will be interesting to see how that situation evolves.
More powerful and accessible VR headsets may change Netflix’s stance in the future. For now, the platforms and hardware need to grow before content consumption can become a real trend. It is an unfortunate way of how things work, but it seems Netflix is making the smart choice in this regard. Until VR technology matures, the content available will always be limited and spotty.
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