Netflix is ​​the #1 streamer to watch for the most requested video game tweaks

The streaming leader’s catalog includes seven of the 10 most popular series based on gaming IP

Netflix is ​​clearly investing in adaptations to video games and that is paying off. Five of the top 10 most requested series by gaming IP are Netflix originals and exclusive shows, according to Parrot Analytics data, which takes into account consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media, among other things.

Additionally, “Pokémon” and “Talking Tom and Friends” are licensed content on Netflix, making a total of seven of the top 10 video game adaptations available in the Netflix catalog.

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Netflix’s most recent video game adaptation, “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners,” was very successful for its first two weeks. Based on the dystopian game “Cyberpunk 2077”, the animated series has 15.49 times more demand than the average show in the United States in September. That’s a very high number for a foreign language show in the US. Only three other shows based on video game IP have been more popular this month so far.

Since video games became hugely popular in the mid-1980s, a number of video game adaptations have attempted to ride that wave. Video games often offer an engaging storyline, charismatic characters already known and loved by their audiences, and an engaging atmosphere that can be highly successful when expertly adapted for TV. More than that, popular video games usually have a devoted fan base that is willing to consume any content related to their favorite game.

The most requested video game adaptation last month was Netflix’s hit show “The Witcher”, with 29.22 times the average demand. The “The Witcher” franchise is based on a book series that inspired a series of video games, which in turn inspired the TV series and is one of Netflix’s most popular IPs. The show is the fifth most requested Netflix original in September. A prequel miniseries, “The Witcher: Blood Origin”, is scheduled for December 2022.

Netflix’s Arcane, a show set in the fictional universe of the game “League of Legends,” is the third most requested video game adaptation of last month. The demand for this show is driven by the huge popularity of the game worldwide, which is considered one of the world’s greatest e-sports.

10 Most Demanded Series Based on IP Video Games, US, September 1-26, 2022 (Parrot Analytics)

There is a pertinent demand for old video game franchises. Some of the most successful shows are adaptations of game series that started in the 1980s or 1990s, such as ‘Pokémon’, ‘Sonic Boom’ and ‘Castlevania’. The TV series “Pokémon”, the most requested of these, was released in 1997 and has since become very popular around the world, making the Pokemon video game series hugely popular outside of Japan. ‘Sonic Boom’ and ‘Castlevania’ are inspired by video game franchises that were first released in 1991 and 1986 respectively. These franchises are able to renew their fan base through their more recent releases, while also retaining fans who want to watch series based on the video games they played when they were younger.

The third most requested shows based on video games are animated series. (The only live-action series are “The Witcher” and “Halo.”) Demand for the animation genre has grown faster than the overall growth in demand for series in the US market, especially after April 2021.

Ask for Animated TV Shows, US, January 2021-Aug. 2022 (Parrot Analysis)

Between January 2021 and August 2022, demand for animated content grew by almost 50%, while total demand for series in the US grew by about 20%. Aside from the demand for video game adaptations, the growth in demand for animation is largely influenced by the demand for Japanese anime such as ‘Attack on Titan’ and ‘My Hero Academy’ and older animated sitcoms such as ‘South Park’, ‘Rick and Morty’ and ‘The Simpsons’.

Christofer Hamilton is a senior insights analyst and Daniel Quinaud is a senior data analyst at Parrot Analytics, a WrapPRO partner. Visit the Data and Analysis Hub to learn more about Parrot Analytics.