Media streaming giant Netflix is apparently entering the games market and has hired Mike Verdu (pictured) to head up this effort.

As reported by Bloomberg, the EA and Facebook veteran has joined Netflix as its VP of game development and will be reporting directly to COO Greg Peters. The streaming firm apparently intends to offer video games on its platform within the next year. Apparently, this will be appearing alongside its regular content as a new genre.

Verdu was previously heading up Facebook's AR and VR content division, a role he took in May 2019. Before that he had held roles at the likes of EA, EA Mobile, Atari, Zynga and Kabam.

It's long been speculated that Netflix would get into the games space. The firm experimented some involvement in this sector with the launch of Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch, which was interactive.

In 2019, Netflix said it wasn't interested in making or streaming games, but CEO Reed Hastings changed his tune in September 2020 when he said that it might make sense to make an entry in this space. The CEO previously admitted that the firm was facing competition from the likes of Fortnite, as well as other streaming services.

Netflix has long benefited from games IP, running series based on The Witcher, Castlevania and Dragon's Dogma franchises.