Netflix Doubles Down on Interactive Shows After Bandersnatch Success
Netflix announces plans to expand its interactive storytelling format following the global hit of Black Mirror's Bandersnatch. The streaming giant plans to branch out beyond sci-fi into comedies and romances.
Netflix is expanding its lineup of interactive shows after the massive global success of the Black Mirror spinoff Bandersnatch. Netflix VP of product Todd Yellin reveals that the streaming giant is doubling down on this format over the next two years. This decision gives viewers the power to choose what happens next by selecting from multiple storyline options.
The company initially experiments with interactive content through children's programming starting in 2016, but its future plans extend far beyond kids' shows and dark sci-fi. Yellin explains that upcoming interactive projects include wacky comedies and romances where the audience decides who the main character dates. This expansion aligns with Netflix's broader strategy to increase its investment in romantic comedies and international markets like India and Latin America.
While interactive storytelling traces its roots back to Choose Your Own Adventure books and old LaserDisc games, Bandersnatch achieves new heights largely due to the established brand value of the Black Mirror series. The format also provides Netflix with valuable data regarding user decision-making habits. It remains to be seen whether Netflix can replicate this high level of success with entirely new and lesser-known interactive properties.