Netflix continues betting on gaming and game streaming arrives

Since yesterday and as a limited test, Netflix is already streaming video games directly to devices, eliminating the need to download games in full or own a console or computer that is capable of running the games natively. We could say that it is a new attempt in the gaming world, when very recently we have had the closure of what until now was the gaming option “in the cloud” that has come closest to success, Google’s Stadia, which however closed its doors recently after failing to find the key for users.

Netflix is testing in particular two of its streaming video games for selected users in Canada and the UK.which support pre-selected TV models, as well as Windows PCs, macOS computers and mobile devices. Consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox Series X or Sony’s PlayStation 5 are not among the currently supported devices.

The news was announced via a Netflix blog post after the streaming giant unpublicized launch of an app called “Netflix Game Controller” for iOS last week.

As for games, one is Oxenfree., a creepy narrative adventure game from Night School Studio that Netflix acquired in 2021. The second is an arcade gem-mining game called Molehew’s Mining Adventure.

We are still at a very early stage in our gaming journey. This limited beta is intended to test our technology and controller for streaming games and improve the member experience over time.

Netflix’s vice president of gaming, Mike Verdu.

Netflix first added downloadable games to its catalog in 2021, but with this new initiative, larger and more robust games can be streamed to any compatible device. Since the games are run on a remote server and then streamed to your screen, only a solid internet connection is needed to play.

Verdu said. Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung smart TVs and Walmart ONN TVs will be the supported TV types for this limited testand more devices will be added on an ongoing basis.

Support for video game controllers or any game consoles has not yet been mentioned. Given that the current iOS controller app interaction only offers a few buttons, it is unlikely that particularly complex games will be added until the app is refined or support for physical controllers is added.

Netflix already has more than 70 downloadable games available on mobile devices.. When asked if they will develop a physical controller/controller or support console controllers in the future, Netflix only comments that the company is fully committed to its mobile controller app because users do not have to purchase hardware to experience the studio’s games.

Why is Netflix’s big push into video games important? Games compete for user attention alongside other entertainment options such as TV and movies, not to mention social video platforms and apps as well. Video games, like movies, tell stories and can immerse participants in another world, but add choice and interactivity to the mix.

Netflix’s streaming competitors such as Amazon and Apple have already dipped their toes into video gamesincluding Amazon’s various gaming perks for Prime users and ownership of video game streaming platform Twitch. Apple also earns gaming revenue by retaining 30% of all in-store purchases through its App Store’s huge catalog of games, and offers its Apple Arcade subscription service with exclusive games.

Video games are a multi-billion dollar industry for Netflix to explore, and casual mobile gaming is a popular type of game. Citing data from Circana, ESA’s gaming report shared that. Americans spent $56.6 billion on video games last year, a figure that has grown $13 billion since 2019.

Netflix’s expansion into video games has been years in the making, but by proving the ability to stream to any device that can run Netflix’s core video content, it could greatly increase the number of gamers, and perhaps fill the void of new content as the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue.