Netflix is constantly expanding its range of games. Now the company has plans that could put it in competition with Microsoft and Sony.
Google recently announced the end of Stadia. Streaming provider Netflix is now considering its own cloud gaming service.
A natural way to play games
At the TechCrunch online magazine’s disrupt event, Netflix Gaming Chairman Mike Verdu spoke about the company’s gaming future. Among other things, a new developer studio based in southern California is planned. Netflix only announced its first studio in Helsinki at the end of September, TECHBOOK reported.
What is more surprising, however, is what Verdu had to say about the future gaming offering. Accordingly, Netflix is in the process of “seriously exploring a cloud gaming offer”. This should offer added value, but not replace the console. According to Verdu, this is “a completely different business model. The hope is that over time it will just become this very natural way of playing games wherever you are.”
Does Netflix have a chance in the cloud gaming market?
Verdu believes Google’s Stadia was a success from a technical standpoint but struggled with its business model. Stadia users could not simply import their game library from Steam or other platforms. Instead, they had to repurchase the titles or subscribe to Stadia Pro to get access to games. Google itself justified the end of its cloud gaming service by saying that the expected demand did not materialize. However, the company believes it has a solid technical foundation.
Stadia is far from the only cloud gaming provider out there. Microsoft and Sony also offer a cloud option as part of their console gaming subscriptions. Graphics card manufacturer Nvidia allows gamers with GeForce Now to play their PC games on the go. Another provider is Amazon with its Luna service, which is currently only available in the USA.
What Luna and Stadia have in common is that no console or gaming PC is required to use them. Both services come with controllers that are connected directly to a smartphone or laptop – no additional hardware is required. Verdu did not reveal whether Netflix could take a similar path.
An advantage over other services could be the already very large user base of the streaming provider. Netflix would not have to first win new subscribers for an additional cloud gaming offer.
Also read: Game studio Ubisoft develops mobile games for Netflix
55 new games in development
In addition to cloud gaming, Verdu has revealed even more about Netflix’s gaming future. Accordingly, 55 new games are currently in development. These include Intellectual Property (“IP”) titles owned by Netflix, such as “Stranger Things.” But licensed IP like “Spongebob Squarepants” is also included. In the future, half of the games will be based on Netflix IP.