Netflix Is Reportedly Looking To Expand Into Video Games

Good luck with that, I mean where would they realistically start? If Google tried and failed then I'm not sure how a video streaming service is going to realistically compete

I feel like Netflix relevance is greatly reduced thanks to everyone getting their own streaming services - and the price continues to go up.

Seriously Netflix, it's 2021, why are you charging (A LOT) for UHD when your competitors don't?

I'm sure Netflix has the infrastructure and knowledge to enter the market. But there are already a lot of game-streaming platforms — Stadia, Luna, possibly a forthcoming Apple platform, Parsec, GeForce NOW, Shadow, Vortex, Loudplay, and of course xCloud — and I'm skeptical that the necessary high-speed internet is both common enough and inexpensive enough to support that much competition.

Whether development, distribution, publishing, etc. gonna be hard to get started. Can't really equate "WE made castlevania and dragon's dogma cartoons and THEY made stranger things game, so we're good to go"

Very interesting. I doubt I would use it unless I could download, as streaming typically just isn't good enough for my setup and preferences. I could see this actually having some kind of an impact though since so many people already have Netflix - that's what makes it different - you're probably already signed up.

If game pass is called "the Netflix of games" what will the original "Netflix of games" be called?!

Problem here is that they’ll be reliant on third parties till they get their own content supply and unlike a tv show or a movie games take years.

There is reason MS needs studios.

Like others have said, this is very interesting news indeed. One way I can definitely see them giving Microsoft a run for its money is if they offered Netflix as both a movie/TV show and gaming service. That way people who are already subscribed don't have to pay anything extra to play video games and if people want to watch movies/TV shows as well as play video games, then they can subscribe to Netflix. Two in one service, that's definitely going to entice a lot of new customers. Not to mention that Netflix already has experience with streaming services as well as games. I remember there being stuff like Minecraft Story Mode on Netflix for a while, which worked as an interactive experience kind of thing. So they might actually be able to penetrate the gaming market, which would be great because more competition means better stuff for us Game Pass users.

@eduscxbox maybe gamepass for games? Lol

Interesting, though I don't see that as a direct competitor to Game Pass. As an inevitably streaming only prospect it's competing directly more with Luna, Stadia, etc. That is, unless the cozy relationship between Netflix and Playstation means they'll actually be offering Playstation downloadable games. That would be a massive deal, but also seems like it would step on Sony's own Now service to the point of rendering it useless, and I'm not sure I see them going that route. If it were, though, MS would be the one that would have to make a move to stay competitive. GP on Switch could be a big part of that though, and could be part of why Nintendo might be willing to approve such a thing, to keep their platform relevant against the mainstream availability of Netflix. It could also relate to PS+ experimenting with video streaming included in Poland (or maybe that's just a "sorry we've banned CDPR" move.)

@eduscxbox "Operating expenses", lol.

I wish them the same success as Google

@Johnnel @NEStalgia lol 🤣🤣🤣

I know not what games they will offer, but I do know they will all star Tom Holland.

If it’s similar to Apple Arcade, and is quoted as offering ‘ad free’ games then I won’t worry, sounds like they will target mobile games or similar, not AAA big console games. I think Game Pass is fine..

It's not easy getting into games development, Amazon have tried, Google have tried, and they both have lots of money and the tech to match it.
Amazon's attempt to get into gaming so far? Buying Double Helix Games, The Grand Touring Game and the Lumberyard game engine, not exactly a prestigious start... Let's not even talk about Google.

Where I see the largest threat is a potential partnership with say Sony, or maybe a large publisher like Ubisoft or Activision, or multiple parties, then they could deliver the content needed to compete.

@eduscxbox The Netflix of Xbox's Netflix of games. NoXNog. Quick trademark it.

This is a Go Big Or Go Home situation.

Wait... does this shed new light on the 'A UbiSoft original' approach?

This will be a huge failure for Netflix, Even worse than Stadia..

If Sony were partnering with them in some way it would create an interesting scenario but I dont see it happening.

It could be a threat to Stadia etc but on its own I dont think its a direct competitor to Game Pass.

@JetmanUK They both have a lot more money then Netflix does, Stadia is a complete flop, with studios and staff now leaving it. And Amazon ditched the streaming platform it bought and it's only rumoured to have a games studio left now, they did make a game once but it was only a mobile style game for their Fire TV box.