Disney+ has officially brought its short-form video stories, called Verts, to its mobile app.
Disney first shared plans for vertical video in January. This week, the feature will begin rolling out in what Disney is calling the “first phase of bringing vertical video content to the platform.”
Verts will feature scenes and moments from movies and shows on Disney+, in a TikTok-like format where users can swipe through from one video to the next. While swiping, users can add shows or movies to their watchlist or jump directly to that show or movie to start watching.
“With the latest streaming hits and an incredible catalog spanning more than 100 years of storytelling, we’re making it easier for fans to discover what to watch next,” Disney shared in a blog post. “Verts offers a fun, fast way to explore that catalog right from the moment users open the app. It brings the magic of Disney’s storytelling into a format that feels modern, engaging, and tailor-made for how fans already enjoy discovering video on mobile devices.”
Disney is launch the vertical videos to increase engagement via mobile. The company shares in today’s blog post that early testing with Disney+ and ESPN improved engagement, attributing the early success to an algorithm that makes Verts feel personalized to each user.
There are already plans to expand the feature. “Over time, Verts will play a key role in fans’ everyday experience on Disney+,” the company writes. Going forward, Disney says we’ll likely see content from creators, additional storytelling formats, and more content.