Netflix tends to bring out some new subscriber features every year, usually after testing and launching them in limited markets or on certain devices. A few months ago we learned that the online giant was working on a “Shuffle Play” tool that uses your viewing history to select something for you to watch, potentially reducing the cost of a choice. And now the platform has confirmed that it will be launching ‘Shuffle Play’ to global users during the first half of 2021.
It was unveiled as part of Netflix’s Q4 revenue call this week, and the news comes from COO and chief product officer Greg Peters, who explained that early testing was successful and had a say in how people use the feature:
‘It really works for us where our members can basically indicate to us that they just want to browse completely, click on one button and we select a title for them to play just right away. And it’s an excellent mechanism that worked very well for members in that situation. ”
Although “Shuffle Play” is currently included with connected television systems, it will now be made more widely available. This gradual approach is how Netflix also tends to do things, with new additions such as being able to remove titles from your “Continue Watching” queue that first appear on mobile systems. Other major changes, including the “Top 10” option, also appear to be a hit with the public, all presumably in an effort to make it easier to navigate through the company’s vast library of materials.
The tool works by adding an icon to the interface asking you to “Play Something” or “Shuffle Play”; once it is passed, you get a piece of programming that should in theory match your previous taste and ‘My List’ choices. You can also choose to click “Play something else” if you do not like the suggestion.
If you can shuffle the game content, it will probably ease the hassle of wading through the game Netflix catalog to choose something to look at. Personally, I stick to a well-stocked ‘My List’, but the prospect of having the service chosen for you is an intrigue. At the very least, it can yield things I never intended to see, so it can be fun to try out.