Once again, Netflix has been spotted testing a new Shuffle Play button for its collection of streaming movies and TV shows with a small subset of its customer base.
As first spotted this morning by TechCrunch, some people already see a new shuffle button on their Netflix homepage, but most do not as the company continues testing the feature.
Netflix told The Verge it’s been running this test since July.
“We run these tests in different countries and for different periods of time – and only make them broadly available if people find them useful,” a spokesperson said.
My TV has a Netflix shuffle play option. The definition of chaotic evil.
— KD (@kgdobs) August 11, 2020
On one hand, the button could solve the age-old problem with Netflix having so much content that picking what to watch becomes too complicated. On the other hand, however, it could be argued that Netflix has so much content but very little worth watching. In that regard, folks could find that the upcoming Shuffle button may not produce satisfactory results.
Netflix has also been testing a similar Play Something feature, but it’s only been available on “TV devices” so far. Something akin to shuffle play is definitely coming soon to all Netflix users. “The hope is to absolutely productize something,” a spokesperson told Variety.
Interesting new feature @netflix … but what kind of insane person just says, “yolo, let’s spin the Netflix wheel of fortune” pic.twitter.com/6WDJrmd7pG
— Turner Levison (@TurnerLevison) August 18, 2020
Netflix previously tested a feature that’d play a random episode of a TV show. For what it’s worth, the company confirmed to TechCrunch that these are all variations on the general shuffle mode, confirming that the Shuffle play button is the only such test that’s still underway.
How do you like Netflix’ upcoming shuffle feature? Is this something you might use? Does being shown a random episode make any sense to you?
Let us know in the comments down below.