Highlights
- Squid Game's success has led to Netflix partnering with Light & Wonder to create a casino slot machine, disregarding the show's message about desperate contestants.
- Despite the dangerous nature of the game in Squid Game, Netflix recreates it for a reality show where contestants get injured.
- Netflix's brand deal with the gambling industry is ironic given that the show's main character has a gambling addiction, ignoring the important messages of the series.
Squid Game was a surprising hit for Netflix, so it makes sense for them to squeeze every dollar out of it. However, their latest brand deal seems to completely disregard the message of the series.
Squid Game is a Korean thriller drama produced by Netflix about a deadly game show where contestants compete for ₩45.6 billion (about $38 million). The show was a worldwide phenomenon, bringing in millions for Netflix, and was immediately greenlit for a second season. Additionally, Mr. Beast created his own version of Squid Game that was less deadly.
Squid Game Season 2 Filming Start Window Revealed By Lee Jung-jae
Squid Game Season 2 will begin filming soon, says Lee Jung-Jae, but when can fans expect the South Korean Netflix series to return?
Recently, it was announced that Netflix will partner with Light & Wonder to make a slot machine that is Squid Game themed. This is Netflix's first brand deal with the casino and gambling industry. The slot machine will incorporate a few of the games seen in Squid Game, including Red Light, Green Light; Tug of War; and the Glass Tile. The top prize will start anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000 depending on how casinos decide to configure it. The slot machine is expected to roll out to casino floors in 2024. Light & Wonder will also release a digital version of the Squid Game-themed slot machine.
Netflix has more Squid Game content and promotions on the way. Squid Game season 2 is still in development. Netflix also has a competition show called Squid Game: The Challenge, where 456 contestants from around the world will compete for $4.56 million, the largest cash prize by any game show, in games based on the original series. However, reports claimed the Squid Game reality show contestants were in unsafe conditions. Additionally, Netflix is also having a pop-up event in L.A. where fans can pay $39 to compete in six different challenges over the course of 70 minutes.
What is so strange and ironic about these Squid Game promotions is that the original show was about how desperate these contestants are that they are willing to risk their lives for this cash prize. Then, when Netflix decides to recreate the game show from the series, contestants end up getting injured. Now Netflix decides to make its first brand deal with the casino and gambling industry, and the main character of Squid Game has a crippling gambling addiction that drives him to compete in a horrific competition.
Netflix produced a wonderful series that was widely popular, but they continue to overlook some of the most important messages in Squid Game. Netflix should be able to make promotional deals with their projects that don't completely contradict the show's messages.
Squid Game season 1 is available on Netflix.
Source: Light & Wonder