Netflix: The Shuffle Play Button Is Here to Stay

Want to spin the Netflix wheel of fortune? Very soon, you might be able to do so by hitting the Shuffle Play button, as Netflix recently announced in its latest financial report. The new feature started with a test phase under the working title of “Play Something.” It caught a lot of users off guard, but most of them were pleasantly surprised.

Once the button is implemented as a permanent feature, global viewers who feel overwhelmed by the tons of random content on their Netflix homepage will surely be thankful.

Browsing through all those movies and TV series might give you a headache. When the Shuffle Play button becomes a permanent feature, you’ll be able to let the platform’s algorithm pick the content for you.

Netflix will serve up titles in your favorite genres, or take you back to the movies and TV series you’ve binge-watched before. If you’re into period dramas, don’t be surprised if Netflix reintroduces you to Elisabeth and Mr. Darcy.

It all happens for a reason. Following the 2020 addition to Netflix’s service - the New & Popular tab that groups together content rows such as “New on Netflix,” “Coming Soon,” and “Top 10” - the Shuffle Play button will make life even easier for users. This entry point was designed to keep subscribers excited about and anticipating new content without having to search for it. In the long run, we envisage it helping Netflix retain customers.

Before the button’s official debut, Netflix will have to figure out what to call the feature. Netflix’s co-CEO Reed Hastings joked that it might be named “I’m Feeling Lucky” after the Google search function that allows users to skip straight to the top search results. Either way, the long-awaited button is here to stay, and we have no doubts that Netflix will make a profit out of it.

The streaming giant has proven immune to coronavirus, with its number of new subscribers skyrocketing to a record 36.6 million in 2020 alone. Lockdowns and travel restrictions have caused everything to slow down and people to stay home, which explains why Netflix shares surged an incredible 15% just last week.

As the pandemic has forced millions of people to spend more time at home, Netflix has become the most valuable source of entertainment for many people. With the new Shuffle Play feature, it looks like this service will only grow in popularity.