Netflix isn't sticking to streaming shows and movies, and it has expanded into the gaming realm. The project has potential, as it can capitalize on Netflix's large user base. However, it faces stiff competition from Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service which has a larger library. It is still early days for the Netflix Games, and there is plenty that can be done to turn it into a worthy competitor, including catering to indie developers, and ensuring it is priced competitor.
It appears that gaming subscription services will form a large part of gaming's future. In addition to the usual suspects like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus, gamers can also subscribe to EA Play to gain access to EA's large catalog, or Ubisoft Plus, which does the same thing for the French studio. Netflix is entering a crowded market, but there is still plenty of space for competition, especially if it manages to bring something new to the table.
Netflix Enters the Gaming World
Reports of Netflix expanding into gaming have been floating around for years. It isn't a particularly odd move for the company, as it has dabbled with interactive media in the past, as seen with the experimental film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Netflix took its first definitive steps into the gaming world in 2021 when it hired Mike Verdu as vice president of game development. Verdu was a good pick, as he has extensive experience in the industry thanks to the years he has worked at Electronic Arts and Facebook.
In the same year, the company announced that it will be offering mobile games to its subscribers, and the games are accessible through the Netflix mobile app. To bolster its gaming segment, a few studios have been acquired, including Next Games, Boss Fight Entertainment, and Night School Studio, which is responsible for Oxenfree. This year, the company also opened a new gaming studio in Finland. Currently, the library is quite small, and it is certainly not a replacement for Game Pass or even PlayStation Plus. However, with enough growth in the right direction, Netflix's gaming services could become a boon.
Netflix Should Keep Its Gaming Subscription Well-Priced
Since Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007, it has grown rapidly, and it has subscribers from almost every region on Earth. The company has been able to continually draw viewers through its large catalog of content which consists of Netflix Originals and shows and films from other studios. The subscription service arrived at just the right time, as internet connections were finally good enough to facilitate streaming, and consumers were ready to leave behind traditional television and its unavoidable ads.
Currently, Netflix enjoys over 222 million subscribers globally, and it was the largest streaming service globally until it was recently surpassed by Disney. Despite its popularity, Netflix has seen a drop in subscribers, and while this certainly doesn't spell the end for the company, it may have some rough years ahead. In response, it has laid off several hundred employees, and it has also begun to block account sharing, making subscribers pay to have additional users.
In addition to the price increases which came this year, it was announced that there is a new Netflix subscription tier on the way. This one is cheaper, though it features advertising. Though the company's attempts to cut costs and rake in profits may be fueled by declining subscription rates, it should be careful to not make things too pricey, as it could leave the streaming service in a bad position compared to Game Pass.
One of the biggest draws of Game Pass is that for a low price, gamers gain access to a wide library of games, with some of them even being day one releases. Netflix will have to be competitively priced if it wishes to be a worthwhile alternative to Microsoft's gaming subscription service. Currently, Netflix's games are available to subscribers at no additional cost, which is a huge plus. However, subscription prices will have to be careful to not creep too high.
Netflix Should Cater to Indie Developers
Venturing into gaming is a good idea, as the hobby is more popular than ever, and the company can entice consumers into getting all their digital entertainment in one place. However, going toe to toe with a giant like Xbox will probably not end well for Netflix, especially when Game Pass has proved itself to be an attractive deal for gamers. With day one releases on Game Pass, subscribers get to enjoy the latest and greatest games. Though this is something that would be difficult for Netflix to offer, it could forge its own identity by catering to the indie games market and giving a platform to the many gems that emerge there.
All Netflix needs is one popular indie game to turn its platform into an unmissable one. Runaway hits like Wordle and Flappy Bird have amassed millions of gamers despite their simplicity, and there is plenty more creativity to be unearthed in the indie scene. Fortunately, it appears that the company is going this route judging by its acquisitions. Although indies have untapped potential, this doesn't mean that Netflix can't capitalize on its popular Originals by making tie-in games.
Though the library is still tiny, there are already a few games worth checking out. The Stranger Things games will be of interest to fans of the series, and even gaming amateurs will have no problem easing into titles like Shooting Hoops. Gamers can also look forward to future games being added to the service, including the thriller Twelve Minutes, and the cute management game Spiritfarer. If the project is successful, Netflix could become a big player in the gaming world, though it will certainly not be an easy road, as failed projects like Google Stadia have demonstrated.