Netflix 'Shuffle Play' Feature Rolling Out to All Users Later This Year

Netflix is planning to roll out a new "Shuffle Play" feature to users this year following a successful period of testing, the company announced Tuesday during its Q4 2020 earnings.

netflix shuffle play

Image via TechCrunch

Noting the feature briefly during the call, Netflix said it would give "members the ability to choose to instantly watch a title chosen just for them, versus browse."

According to TechCrunch, Shuffle Play places a big button on the Netflix home screen under the user's profile icon. When the button's selected, Netflix randomly plays content that the service's personalization algorithms think the user will like.

Content can include a movie that has recently been played, something saved to the user's watch list, or a title that is similar to something they've already watched, for example.

A variation of the feature has also been spotted in the TV app's sidebar navigation menu. When selected, the question "Not sure what to watch?" is displayed and the page goes on to explain how Shuffle Play works.

Shuffle Play is still only being tested on TVs right now, but the company said the feature, which may yet take another name, will reach all users worldwide sometime in the first half of 2021.

Shuffle Play is just the latest feature that Netflix has tested in search of a better way to connect users to something to watch. In April 2019 it began testing a feature on mobile that allowed users to "Play a Popular Episode" of certain TV shows, without having to scroll through and pick which one they want to watch.

Tag: Netflix

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Top Rated Comments

selamet Avatar
56 months ago
At first they should do a proper user interface which can hide already seen movies.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MJaP Avatar
56 months ago
"We see you like Baseball... playing Season 7 Episode 1 of The Walking Dead"
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
velocityg4 Avatar
56 months ago
Given that 98% of the recommendations from Netflix are claptrap. I can't imagine using this feature.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imlovinit Avatar
56 months ago
I rather see an easier way to block their recommendations straight from the app.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
56 months ago
I question anyone that has the time in a week to just shuffle play something lol! I can barely keep up with the shows I do watch frequently.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
and 1989 others Avatar
56 months ago
It doesn't solve the problem. We click on shuffle, then on the next button several times because what it suggests is just as bad as scrolling through the standard selections.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)