In August last year, Netflix started testing a new Shuffle Play feature as a way of making it easier for subscribers to find something new to watch (by picking for them). It must have been popular because Shuffle Play is becoming an official feature of the service this year.
As VarietyVariety reports, Netflix confirmed the new feature is rolling out to everyone as part of its Q4 results, where we also learned the video streaming service now has over 200 million subscribers. We don't have an official date for Shuffle Play arriving, only that it's expected to go live during the first half of 2021.
"It's really working for us where our members can basically indicate to us that they just want to skip browsing entirely, click one button and we’ll pick a title for them just to instantly play," says Greg Peters, COO and Chief Product Officer. "And that's a great mechanism that's worked quite well for members in that situation."
If the final version works like the test, subscribers will find a "Shuffle Play" button under their profile in the "billboard" area of the home page or TV menu sidebar. Although it's seen as a random play feature, Netflix selects either a movie or show based on what you've watched previously, which means there's a higher chance you'll like what's chosen. Netflix wants to keep you happy after all, so you keep subscribing.