Among the myriad streaming services that have risen to prominence over the years, Netflix is the largest and most well-known. The streaming giant just announced it would now be getting into the gaming market by offering access to a library of mobile games to anyone with a Netflix subscription.
Games available through Netflix will require no additional fee beyond the normal subscription and will have no ads or microtransactions. While Netflix Games is only available on Android devices right now, it has plans to roll it out to iOS devices within the next few months. While some of the games it is offering will require an internet connection, there will be many that can be played even without wi-fi, enabling players to play locally on their phones even without service.
There are only five games available in Netflix Games right now: Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3: The Game, as well as Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. While its collection is currently quite small, it has plans to grow its library over time, and eventually wants to cater to all kinds of players, be they new or veteran gamers. Netflix plans on offering all sorts of games, from casual puzzle games to in-depth story-focused titles, as indicative of the humble selection already available.
Netflix has been trying to get into the gaming industry since this summer. In July, it announced the hiring of veteran EA game executive Mike Verdu as vice president of game development and stated it wanted to enter the gaming market, starting with mobile games. In August, Netflix Gaming hit the market, but only to Netflix subscribers in Poland. Near the end of September, Spain and Italy gained access to the service, and starting November 3rd, the rest of the world can join in the fun–as long as they have the Netflix app.
Diving into gaming is an interesting, but not unexpected turn for Netflix to take. In recent years, video gaming has become even more widespread than it had before, with the global COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown creating a record-breaking boom of gamers than ever before. Though Netflix was not technically the first streaming service, it set precedents in the market that competitors have had to contend with. With Netflix Games, it has done so again. It will be interesting to see if other streaming services like Hulu or Disney+ will follow suit if Netflix Games turns out to be a success.
Netflix Games is available starting November 3rd, 2021.
Source: Netflix Website