The company, starting last month, quietly launched the ability for users to create unique "game handles" in a subset of its mobile games, including Into The Breach, followed by Bowling Ballers, Mahjong Solitaire, and Heads Up. Netflix is building features that would enable members to play its mobile games with one another and competitively rank themselves on leaderboards. Furthermore, references unearthed in the Netflix app refer to further gaming ambitions, such as sending other users a call to play games alongside you and also showing you where you stand in leaderboards, among others.

The company confirmed it's exploring a range of gaming features in a statement provided to TechCrunch but couldn't comment on which features beyond game handles would be rolled out publicly to users or when that would happen.

"We are constantly working to enhance our member's experience on the service and are experimenting on various aspects to enrich the Netflix mobile games experience," said Netflix spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka. "We don't have anything else to share at this time."

The moves suggest Netflix is moving toward a future that focuses on more than just making mobile games available to its subscribers but one that encourages members to participate in gaming through playing with others. The news comes after it recently emerged that Netflix has been recruiting engineers and product managers who have experience in cloud gaming.

Per reported discoveries first by developer Steve Moser, people are also being allowed to create something known as a "game handle." A game handle is described as "a unique public name for playing games on Netflix."

Netflix first started its tests of game handles in the game Into The Breach starting on July 19, 2022, before expanding the option to other titles.

Netflix also tells its app users: "Your profile icon and name will not be visible to others playing Netflix Games." That is, you can be known by a nickname rather than your Netflix name and identity.

While the game handle test has launched, code in the app suggests Netflix intends to later let users view where they stand on leaderboards and represent the user across Netflix Games. And the handles will be used when "you play with other members," the code states.

Another area refers to the functionality where users can show to others if they are online, whether they would like to play and also facilitates the ability to invite members to play with them, too.

Increasing the social aspects is one of the tactics likely employed by Netflix to enhance its ability to attract and retain subscribers.

However, so far, it hasn't seen outsized demand for its mobile games.

Apptopia, an app data firm, recently found that Netflix games were averaging just 1.7 million daily users, CNBC had first reported. In total, the two dozen-plus games in Netflix's catalog had seen just 23.3 million downloads to date. That compares with Netflix's 221 million subscribers.

Natch, some of the games Netflix acquired had already had built-in user bases. Still, engagement levels are pretty low while accounting for some uncounted downloads.

Only time will tell if Netflix has made a strategic mistake in entering the gaming business it was foolish to do so.

To its credit, Netflix found a workaround to Apple's rule that apps on its App Store platform can't host their own app stores — Netflix lists its games as separate downloads and just points to them from its main app, which is permitted. The games then require your Netflix credentials to sign in.

But mobile consumers might well not think to turn to Netflix for this kind of entertainment any more than they think to open up Netflix when they're in the mood for TikTok-like short-form videos-the latter Netflix plugs from its top navigation as "Fast Laughs.

Based on the premise of the streamer, it must allow more avenues of entertainment in an effort to boost its lagging subscriber numbers. The greater feedback of critics and users is that what they really want from Netflix isn't games or TikToks, but rather more quality shows.