Netflix Rolls-Out ‘Play Something’ For Android Devices

Popular movies and video app, Netflix has notified its Android users that it would be launching the ‘Play Something’ feature today exclusively for their use.

‘Play Something’ is a shuffle mode option on the Netflix app that allows users play another movie or show Netflix believes they may like, based on interests and user prior viewing behavior.

There are 15,000 video impressions on the Netflix app, and choosing what to watch can be a daunting task and it is in lieu of this that Netflix is trying to make it easy for its users.

The new ‘Play Something’ feature has been in development for a while now with the testing beginning in April. As at last year, Netflix was testing it as ‘Shuffle Play, with the streaming site promising then users while revealing its Q4 2020 earnings that it would roll out its shuffle mode to its users globally in the first half of 2021, describing the new addition as a way to “instantly watch a title” that was chosen just for the user.

Well, the new feature did not come in the first half of 2021 as promised but alas, it came in October 5, today, released exclusively for Android device users.

The new selection on the ‘Play Something’  may be based  on the algorithm of movies a user may already be watching but haven’t completed, a movie or show on the watch list or new series Netflix itself may suggest among others.

Image Credits: Netflix

The “Play Something,” option can be found in several places on the Netflix app screen, on the profile selection screen underneath the users profile name, the navigation menu on the left of the screen and on the tenth row on the homepage of the app. Users with screen-readers will also have the leverage to access the option using the Text-to-Speech (TTS) mode.

With the roll-out standing today only for Android users, Netflix says it will test the feature on iPhones and all iOS devices in the coming months.

Its easily accessible for android users on mobile, as the ‘Play Something’ button hovers over the content at the bottom of the phone screen as they scroll on, while also having its own dedicated tab on the app.

Image Credits: Netflix

The new addition has elicited positive reviews from the majority of the populace with Netflix itself acknowledging few tweets where sections of the populace praised the new feature.

Netflix believes the shuffle mode feature isn’t just giving its numerous users easier ways to watch their favourite movies or series, but a means users can be retained on the app in general before moving to another streaming app or even another social media video app like TikTok.

The “Play Something” feature joins other newer additions to the Netflix tab, like  a smart downloads feature dubbed “Downloads for You” and support for partial play downloads, and the  Top 10 list addition released last year.