In a significant achievement for Netflix, data from Appmagic reveals that the remastered Grand Theft Auto (GTA) trilogy has amassed over 18 million downloads on iOS and Android platforms combined. Launched via Netflix on December 14, 2023, these games have become the streaming giant’s most successful gaming releases to date.

GTA: San Andreas emerges as the standout title, boasting a remarkable 11.6 million downloads. The iOS edition of San Andreas contributes around 9.1 million downloads, while the Android version adds approximately 2.6 million.

Vice City follows with a combined 4.1 million downloads, with 3.1 million on iOS and around 900,000 on Android. Completing the trilogy, GTA III records approximately 2.4 million installs, split between ~1.7 million on iOS and ~700,000 on Android.

Appmagic’s insights indicate that Netflix’s gaming landscape saw a shift in late 2022, with notable additions like Too Hot To Handle: Love is a Game, Twelve Minutes, and Hello Kitty Happiness Parade entering the top downloads. However, it wasn’t until the arrival of narrative puzzler Storyteller in late September 2023 and Football Manager 2024 Mobile in November that new games made a substantial impact.

December marked a remarkable surge in downloads driven by the GTA remasters. Netflix, in a recent shareholder letter, acknowledged that although it’s early days for their gaming offerings, engagement tripled in the past year. The company emphasized that games constitute a small portion of its business compared to TV and film but expressed satisfaction with its progress in the gaming realm.

Netflix attributed the success of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy launch to being its “most successful launch to date in terms of installs and engagement.” Notably, some consumers reportedly signed up for Netflix specifically to access and play these acclaimed games.

As Netflix continues to navigate the evolving landscape of gaming, the company appears optimistic about the role of games within its overall content strategy. The success of the GTA trilogy launch serves as a testament to the streaming giant’s growing influence in the gaming industry.

Source: adapted from an article by Neil Long, Founder and Editor of mobilegamer.biz.