Netflix Faces Backlash as Subscribers Rally Against ‘Annoying’ Features—Will This Be the Final Straw?

Do you remember when Netflix was just a place to binge “Stranger Things” and eat your weight in popcorn—without, say, being nudged to become the next GTA: San Andreas champion? Yeah, me too . But lately, it feels as if every time I fire up Netflix, I’m dodging more pop-ups and UI experiments than a Black Mirror protagonist flirting with the wrong hyperlink . Now, Netflix subscribers—never ones to mince words—are revolting louder than a group chat when someone suggests pineapple on pizza . They’re not just grumbling about autoplay or the jarring interface revamp . Oh no—they’re demanding the streamer scrap not one, but two high-profile features . And honestly, can you blame them? If change really was as good as a holiday, we’d all have sand in our shoes by now . Are you ready for the digital drama that makes reality TV look subtle? LEARN MORE

Netflix users have continued to rebel against the streamer’s updates, which led to many threatening to cancel their subscription.

Now, subscribers have gone even further, calling on the streaming service to remove two key features to the platform.

Netflix users can sometimes be incredibly split when it comes to change.

One recent add-on discovered on Reddit was praised as a game changer for viewers, whilst others take to social media to vent their complaints anytime they change the streaming giant’s UI.

With the streamer also under criticism after some users said it was ‘pointless’ to watch new shows for fear they be cancelled, dissent in the Netflix ranks seems to be at an all-time high.

Netflix users demand key feature is ‘removed’

Netflix’s games section is controversial amongst users (Netflix)

One new complaint from fans centres around one of Netflix’s newest major features, gaming.

The streamer has been trying to break into the gaming space since 2021, hiring a former EA executive and putting games as free to play on the platform.

At the time of writing, fans can play games like GTA: San Andreas or original mobile games based off of Black Mirror and Squid Game.

This has not pleased everyone, despite being an option of the Beta section of the site.

One viewer took to Reddit, posting in the r/Netflix subreddit, pointing out what they believe is Netflix’s ‘obsession with games’.

They posted: “When I open my Netflix app today, I am met with a banner commercials for their inane phone games.

“Lately it seems Netflix is pushing them more and more. In fact, I had to scroll rather far to get to get to the movies and series.

“I want to watch movies and series, not play their silly games. Does anyone know how to completely remove those annoying games from my view?”

Commenters pointed out that you cannot remove it at the moment but many agreed that they not only do not play the games, but would prefer if it were removed. Some went as far as to continue to threaten to cancel their subscription.

Netflix users continue to complain about the newest update

The update streamlines things but left fans furious (Netflix)

Another fan took to the r/Netflix subreddit, saying that they wanted to vent their frustration about the newest user interface.

This was brought in on consoles, and means that tiles take up much more of the screen, prompting some to threaten to cancel their subscription.

The poster went on to say: “Many of you probably like it or have adjusted to it, as Netflix’s own research would suggest, but I could not. I tried, I really tried.”

They also said they recently spent more time on other streamers, saying it was ‘not out of stubbornness or revenge… it came organically’.

They finally added: “I think the new Netflix interface is an opportunity for other streaming platforms to catch up with Netflix and get new subscribers. It might also be the beginning of Netflix’s decline or at best plateau.”

One comment agreed, saying: “I watch Netflix less now. I have put the app on my phone so I can scroll easier through my save list.”

A second comment said: “Yes it is awful, I have tried changing it back but nothing seems to work. No way anyone actually prefers it this way. Why can’t they just put an option to change it back if you don’t like it?”

Netflix explained in a post on Tudum that their updated ‘TV experience’ allows them to provide users with more simple navigation and more responsive recommendations.