NETFLIX is testing an overhaul of its TV app homepage, marking the first major update in a decade – but early feedback hasn’t been positive.
So far, the update has been shared with a small group of users, but it is expected to roll out to screens worldwide by the end of 2024.
Static tiles will be traded for expandable boxes that reveal details like synopsis, genre, and ratings when the user hovers over them.
A simplified version of the navigation bar will be located at the top of the page.
The revamped design also includes My Netflix, a category previously exclusive to mobile that contains everything a user watched or saved.
A Q2 2024 shareholder letter reviewed by The U.S. Sun lays out the driving forces behind the radical transformation.
“With so many titles — plus now games and live — it’s imperative that members can easily find the right title or game at the right moment,” the letter reads.
“While our recommendations are widely recognized as industry
leading, we believe we can do much more to improve discovery on Netflix.”
Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters echoed this message during the company’s Q2 earnings call.
“A lot of this is getting to the increase in diversity of entertainment that we are now offering,” Peters said.
“Our expectation is that this new structure will allow us to deliver, as the old structure did for a decade, multiple repetitive material benefits to users.”
However, the company’s intentions don’t appear to have manifested, as users have taken to social media to rail against the redesign.
“There was nothing wrong with the old interface,” one Reddit user wrote.
“It was easily the best among all streaming platforms. Now it looks like Max and I hate it. Switching profiles is now a chore.
Another blasted the interface as “absolutely ridiculous” and directed the company to “fire whoever came up with this.”
“It’s the worst thing an app or brand has done in a while,” the user wrote. “Ask your customers what they want, not your tech team.”
Yet another Redditor described the new design as “a step down from the previous interface.”
“Everything is too big so I’m getting significantly less information on my screen while browsing,” the user complained.
“No more new and upcoming tab to see what will be releasing in the upcoming week and month.”
One netizen blasted the company for stripping users of personal choice.
“I don’t see why it can’t be optional. There are no settings anymore either!” the user exclaimed.
“There should be a way to revert it but there isn’t. I exited in disgust a few times but I’m stuck in the experiment.”
Here are some handy keyboard shortcuts...
It is unclear when the revamped app will arrive on every user’s screen – but it may look different when it does.
As mentioned in the shareholder letter, the company plans to “listen to the feedback, learn and continue to improve the experience over time.”
