For years now, companies have been trying to create a “Netflix for games”, and now it seems Netflix might be taking matters into its own hands to do exactly that. Streaming content via the cloud has already proven immensely popular through VoD subscription services such as Netflix. And streaming technology is also making headway in the world of gaming, as cloud gaming continues to be a big trend in the industry. Now, Netflix might be getting ready to jump on the bandwagon: It was recently announced the company is considering launching a cloud gaming service. The streaming giant has already forayed into gaming and has so far released 35 mobile games on its service, with reportedly 55 more on the way. As a next step, it seems, it will be pushing even deeper into the gaming space.
Netflix has a game plan
During a discussion at the TechCrunch Disrupt event in October, Mike Verdu, the VP of gaming at Netflix, revealed that the company is “very seriously exploring a cloud gaming offering”. While the streaming giant already offers games on mobile devices, the cloud gaming service would be available for PCs and TVs. The timing of this news may come as a surprise for many, given that Google only announced the end of its cloud gaming platform Stadia and their long term streaming strategy a few weeks back. However, as Verdu described, Netflix would use a different approach than Google did. Rather than offering cloud gaming as a replacement for game consoles – the concept Google was building on with Stadia – the streaming giant would see its cloud gaming offering as a value add.
While users can already find (and download) games on Netflix’s service on mobile devices, offering cloud gaming on PCs and TVs would allow the streamer to reach users where they are already consuming Netflix. By not expecting gamers to replace their gaming hardware with Netflix’s gaming service, it would be running a very different business model than Google did with Stadia. As the VP stated, the company would start small, and evolve its offering slowly. With time, just as it has become natural for users to play any movie or TV show on the platform in an instant, Netflix hopes playing games on the cloud wherever you are could become just as natural.
Gaming wherever you are
While AAA video games have so far mostly been confined to powerful gaming hardware such as gaming PCs and consoles, cloud gaming could see a shift to where players can access their games no matter where they are. Without the need for a tediously long game download and a particularly powerful device, games can be started with the click of a button on almost any device and streamed via the cloud. With that, cloud gaming is stepping in the footsteps of browser games, which have already been around for decades, letting players play all kinds of games directly on their browser without having to download the game.
The realm of browser games has expanded widely in recent years, offering games of all genres on browsers. Most commonly, mini-games and casual games have had their home in browsers, which are offered on a variety of platforms online. Network games such as Candy Crush Saga and more can also easily be played on a browser without having to download the app. Lots of classic games are also readily available on the web. Many platforms let players start a round of chess against players from around the world directly in their browser, and even casino games can be accessed that way. Many online casinos offer a wide variety of casino games such as table games and slots on the internet to players from around the world, which can be started with the click of a button. Experts review and rate platforms for players to find the best ones to play on. Apart from mini-games and classics, even larger MMOs can be found in browsers that take browser gaming to the next level. Cloud gaming is the next step, which can bring all kinds of titles, even AAA games, onto almost any device.
Netflix is pushing deeper into the gaming space and is considering launching its own take on a cloud gaming service. Will we see video games show up in Netflix’s library ready to play via the cloud on PCs and TVs in the future? Time will tell if and when this might happen, and whether Netflix will become the new “Netflix for games”.
