Twitter

Netflix is expanding customers’ horizons with its new “shuffle play” feature. The recently-launched feature is currently available on connected TV platforms, but during its Q4 earnings call on Tuesday, the streaming giant revealed that it will be rolled out to all global subscribers in the first half of 2021.

During the call, Netflix COO and chief product officer Greg Peters explained that the “shuffle play” option has proved successful with users who are “not really sure what they want to watch,” per Variety. “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,” said Peters. “And that’s a great mechanism that’s worked quite well for members in that situation.”

When co-CEO Red Hastings jokingly asked if he will name the new feature “‘I’m feeling lucky’ … or something better,” a reference to Google’s search feature, Peters revealed that a name change is in the works. “We’re going to come up with something better than that, so stand by for this,” said the Netflix boss. “You’ll see it when it rolls out.”

Netflix’s “shuffle play” feature has been available to connected TV users since last summer. Those customers can find the option on their profile login screen or on the sidebar menu, with prompts to “Play Something” or “Shuffle Play.” If you click the button, Netflix will surface shows and movies similar to ones you’ve already watched, titles in genres you’ve previously viewed, or content saved under “My List.” Of course, if you’re not happy with Netflix’s randomly-selected title, you can always hit “Play Something Else” to be given a new option.

The “shuffle play” feature wasn’t Netflix’s only success of 2020. In Q4 2020, Netflix added 8.51 million global subscribers, about 2.5 million more than projections estimated. The company now boasts more than 200 million subscribers, a figure that firmly secures its place atop the streamers. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic (or perhaps because of it), 2020 was Netflix’s most successful year in terms of new customers: the service added 36.6 million subscribers last year, beating its previous record of 28.6 million in 2018.