Have you ever wanted to binge favorite TV series, but you don’t want to choose a specific episode? Sometimes you just want The Office to happen to you with as little effort as possible.
You may get the chance soon, as Netflix is testing out a new feature that allows subscribers to play random episodes of TV shows.
“We are testing the ability for members to play a random episode from different TV series on the Android mobile app,” a Netflix spokesperson tells Variety. “The tests typically vary in length of time and by region, and may not become permanent.” Sorry, iOS users. It’s Android’s time to shine.
Users who can access the test button can play a random episode from select popular TV series in the Netflix video player. They can also choose from a list of episodes titled “Play a Popular Episode” in the main menu. A few of these episodes are from fan favorites, including The Office, Arrested Development, and New Girl.
Todd Yellin, Netflix’s VP of product, explained that the new feature will allow viewers to watch shows, especially anthologies, in the order they choose. “You don’t have to watch it in the order that we tell you to,” he says during a recent press event in Los Angeles.
The streaming service tests out new features regularly with a small audience group at any time. Netflix compares the collected data to metrics from members without access to the feature. Only a small number of features tested this way actually make the cut.
Photo: Netflix
