The success of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now has popularized the pay-by-month subscription service for games. Services like these offer players a vast library of titles accessible at a moment's notice without the need to spend more money for games. Streaming giant Netflix recently announced game streaming would be coming to the iconic platform and announced today that certain Netflix subscribers can start testing the upcoming feature.
Netflix has grown into a household name among streaming services since its foundation in 1997. The streaming service, boasting a large library of TV shows and movies with over 200 million subscribers, is familiar with the games market with several "Netflix Originals" based on video games such as The Witcher and Castlevania. Now, the massive streaming service has its sights set on the gaming market, launching a limited test run of the service starting today.
Netflix announced today that the streaming service's game offerings would initially be limited to Android devices offering interested players two titles based on the popular Netflix series Stranger Things. Stranger Things: The Game and Stranger Things 3: The Game are both available for Netflix subscribers to test on the platform. The streaming service did announce, though, that the game's initial testing phase would be limited to Netflix users living in Poland.
Netflix noted that players should expect no ads or in-app transactions in games featured on Netflix's gaming service. The announcement would go on to state that game streaming would be included with the standard Netflix subscription without any additional cost to players. Netflix stressed that the service's offering is still in its "very, very early days" but sounded optimistic about the future of games on the massive streaming platform. No information was given on when the service would be available in regions other than Poland, though previous timeframes placed the gaming service's release within the next year.
Netflix was rumored to be looking at game streaming for months leading up to the announcement of the streaming giant's gaming service. The company has deep-rooted ties with the gaming industry with big-name games like Dota 2 and League of Legends receiving animated adaptations on the service. The successful implementing of games to the streaming service would only serve to further entrench Netflix's status as one of the top streaming services. However, for now, it seems players will still be waiting for some time to see what Netflix's full-fledged game offerings will look like.
Source: IGN