Tag: Gaming

Social Media

Netflix Unveils Interactive Features, Party Games, and New User Experiences for 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Netflix is entering a new era of interactivity and shared entertainment. During the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, Netflix Chief Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone unveiled a lineup of updates that will transform how viewers watch, play, and engage with content on the platform. The company is leaning into live participation, gaming, and personalized experiences that bring a fresh sense of community to streaming.

One of the biggest updates is the introduction of second-screen tools designed to make viewing more interactive. Audiences will be able to take part in live polls and real-time voting, influencing outcomes as shows unfold. This feature was tested earlier this year during the live cooking show Dinner Time with David Chang, and Netflix plans to expand it with the reboot of Star Search launching next year. Viewers will have the opportunity to vote for contestants directly through their TVs or phones, while those watching later will miss the voting window — keeping the experience live and engaging.

Netflix also plans to extend real-time interactions to video podcasts, connecting with Spotify’s upcoming podcast integration. The platform’s push for interactivity doesn’t stop there — a new wave of “living room party games” will arrive later this year, with more expected in 2026. These games will let friends and families play together using their phones as controllers, echoing the fun of Jackbox-style game packs. Five titles are already lined up for release by the end of 2025, including LEGO® Party!, Boggle Party, Pictionary: Game Night, Tetris Time Warp, and Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends.

Alongside interactive experiences, Netflix is refreshing its visual design. The platform’s homepage will feature animated and themed experiences, beginning with a Halloween version followed by a Holiday theme in December and a Bridgerton-themed experience in development. Younger viewers will also see changes with a redesigned Kids profile featuring simpler navigation and a new “My Netflix” section that updates recommendations in real time while merging saved, watched, and liked titles.

For mobile users, Netflix is testing vertical video feeds that showcase short clips and highlight scenes from shows and films. The goal is to provide a casual viewing experience that fits modern habits without directly imitating existing short-form platforms. More developments in this area are expected through 2026.

Netflix’s upcoming updates make it clear the company is doubling down on innovation and audience participation. From live shows that invite your input to party games that turn your TV into a social hub, the streaming giant is reshaping entertainment into a more connected, interactive experience.

Sports

Riot Games and Piece of Magic Bring Valorant & LoL Finals to Cinemas Across Europe This Fall

Tanisha Cardozo

In a first-of-its-kind initiative for esports and cinema lovers, Piece of Magic Entertainment (POM), the Amsterdam-based multi-territory distributor, has partnered once again with Riot Games to bring two of the biggest esports tournaments of the year to the big screen across Europe.

The 2025 Valorant Champions Grand Final, scheduled for October 5 in Paris, will be streamed live in cinemas across nine European countries, giving fans a front-row seat to the action as the best teams in the world battle it out for the ultimate Valorant title. Following that, on November 9, fans can experience the League of Legends World Championship Finals live from Chengdu, China, with screenings planned across more than 30 territories in Europe.

This initiative is part of POM and Riot Games’ ongoing mission to enhance esports viewership by turning game-watching into a shared, cinematic celebration. Caspar Nadaud, founder and CEO of POM, emphasized how this long-term collaboration is helping to expand esports as a new entertainment category in cinemas. “By broadcasting the finals live onto the big screen, we’re giving fans a unique way to experience these defining moments together, in real time, inside the cinema,” he said.

More than just screenings, these events will include exclusive flagship celebrations in key cities — featuring cosplay experiences, live fan games, interactive photo zones, and limited-edition merchandise giveaways designed to bring fans closer to the energy of the tournaments.

Since 2018, Riot and POM have worked closely to pioneer this form of hybrid fan engagement. The move not only reflects the growing global popularity of esports, but also the expanding demand for communal experiences in an era of digital content.

Founded in 2017, Piece of Magic Entertainment has built a reputation for bringing niche and large-scale cultural events — from anime films and concert movies to global nature documentaries — to international cinema audiences. Its successful titles include “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train,” “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” Taylor Swift’s official concert film, and the Oscar-winning “Godzilla Minus One.”

With the 2025 Valorant and LoL finals, POM and Riot Games continue redefining what cinema can be — a global gathering place for communities, gamers, and fans ready to experience the biggest esports moments together.

TechPulse

Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Enters Fortnite With Playable Mode and Creator Assets

Tanisha Cardozo

Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters is officially stepping into the metaverse with a full-scale integration into Epic Games’ Fortnite, blending streaming, gaming, and K-pop fandom in one dynamic collaboration. The crossover launched on October 2 and will run through November 1, allowing Fortnite players to dive into a brand-new game mode and experience the world of KPop Demon Hunters firsthand.

In the newly introduced “Demon Rush Mode,” fans can team up with the elite demon-slaying crew HUNTR/X to defend the mystical Honmoon from relentless waves of faceless demons. Players can also take on the personas of fan-favorite characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—complete with custom outfits, accessories, and signature items like spicy ramyeon, which has already become an iconic part of the film’s visual branding.

In a major move for user-generated content, Netflix is also enabling Fortnite creators to design and publish their own games using official KPop Demon Hunters assets. These assets are now accessible through Fortnite’s creator tools and are fully licensed, giving fans a creative outlet to expand the universe of the film inside one of the world’s most popular games.

The collaboration reflects the increasing convergence of entertainment platforms—bringing cinematic universes to life within interactive digital spaces. With K-pop’s global influence, Fortnite’s massive user base, and Netflix’s storytelling reach, this partnership positions KPop Demon Hunters not just as a film, but as a living, playable IP.

This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into gaming, but it’s one of its boldest, tying in a culturally resonant title with a gaming ecosystem known for its crossovers and community engagement. With a rising number of users exploring Fortnite Creative, the timing couldn’t be better for fans to interact with the KPop Demon Hunters universe in new and imaginative ways.

Whether you’re a K-pop stan, a Netflix binge-watcher, or a Fortnite creator, KPop Demon Hunters in Fortnite is a crossover that promises energy, creativity, and plenty of demon-slaying fun—one spicy ramyeon at a time.

TechPulse

IICT Joins Forces with Global Tech Leaders to Launch AVGC-XR Courses in India

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) has officially launched admissions for its inaugural academic session, with classes set to begin in August 2025. With the creative economy booming globally, the institute is setting the stage for India to lead in the domains of Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).

Announced by Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw at the WAVES Summit earlier this year, IICT is envisioned as a world-class institution fostering talent in digital creative technologies. What sets it apart is its strategic collaboration with industry giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, YouTube, Adobe, NVIDIA, and JioStar. These tech leaders will not only support curriculum development but also provide industry training, internships, scholarships, and direct job placements for graduating students.

The institute’s first wave of courses includes:

  • 🎮 6 in Gaming
  • 🎞️ 4 in Post Production
  • ✍️ 8 in Animation, Comics, and XR

With a focus on immersive, hands-on learning, these courses aim to align with industry standards, preparing students for careers in global media, tech, and gaming companies.

IICT has also forged a key MoU with the University of York, UK, enabling students to access global certifications, research collaborations, and exchange opportunities, further enhancing the institute’s international credibility.

Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, the institute aims to position India as a global AVGC-XR hub. “We’re merging India’s immense creative potential with global standards. It’s a revolution in digital skill-building,” said Dr. Deoskar.

The institute will soon release its full curriculum, and admissions for the August 2025 batch are now open.

With India’s youth eager for high-growth careers and the AVGC-XR sector set to skyrocket, IICT is the launchpad for future creative innovators.