Netflix tends to bring some new features to subscribers each year, usually after testing and introducing them to limited markets or on certain devices. Several months ago, we discovered 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 time you spend trying to make a choice. And now, the platform has confirmed that it will launch “Shuffle Play” for users all over the world during the first half of 2021.
Revealed as part of Netflix’s fourth quarter earnings conference call this week, the news came from COO and product director Greg Peters, who explained that the first tests were successful and said the following about how people are using the feature:
“It’s really working for us, as our members can basically indicate that they want to skip navigation altogether, click on a button and we’ll choose a title for them to play instantly. And this is a great mechanism that worked very well for members in this 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 tends to do things too, with new additions, such as the ability to remove titles from the “Continue Watching” queue that appear first on mobile systems. Other major changes, including the “Top 10” option, also proved to be a blockbuster, all presumably in an attempt to facilitate navigation in the company’s large material library.
The tool works by adding an icon to the interface that asks you to “Play something” or “Play at random”; once reached, you will get a piece of programming that should, in theory, match your previous tastes and “My list” selections. There is also an option to click on “Play something else” if you don’t like the suggestion.
Being able to shuffle content will likely ease the hassle of navigating the Netflix catalog to choose something to watch. Personally, I keep a “My List” well stocked, but the prospect of letting the service choose for you is intriguing. At the very least, it can bring up things that I never planned to see, so it can be fun to try.