Netflix has been betting on video games for a few months and, proof of this, is the tab that appeared in the official app on our mobilesThis is where some versions have arrived that we can download completely free of charge. Without paying an extra euro and as part of the subscription we already have to watch films, series, documentaries, etc. So what do you think is the next step for the multinational?
all cards face up
As we tell you, Netflix has made no secret lately that video games are an area that particularly interests it. And it is for a simple reason that has been confirmed in recent years… even five years: above the music industry, above the cinema and above the television sector, it is computer and console games, but especially mobile games, that outperform the others together in terms of revenue.
This trend is not unknown to companies like Netflix who know that at some point their TV and movie business will be disrupted in one way or another. So there is nothing better than looking for alternatives beyond this content, covering a small section of its apps for iOS and Android where we can play quick games. Now well, Do you think Reed Hastings will get enough of this?
Obviously not, and the proof of this is the latest information which indicates that Netflix opens new studio in California which will focus on developing everything needed to launch a cloud gaming service, in the style that Google still has with Stadia (although it will close in January 2023), Amazon with Luna (not yet available in Europe) or Microsoft with Xbox Cloud Gaming and its Game Pass canned in its guts.
Why can Netflix succeed?
But of course, looking at the results of names like OnLive nearly two decades ago, or Stadia, one would think that on Netflix have not yet understood the risk they are exposing themselves to, but it’s not like that. According to Mike Verdu, vice president of games at Netflix, “Stadia was a technical success. It was fun to play on Stadia [pero] had some issues with the business model.
And this is precisely the key: Stadia failed due to the need to adapt games to its platform, which meant a little extra work for the developers to make these adjustments without knowing if the economic return would really come. Additionally, the subscription Pro it never managed to take off or convince users because the games that arrived were mostly AA or lower category titles (with some exceptions). However, technically it was (and still is) the best platform without a doubt, with outstanding 4K HDR gameplay.
Netflix looks like it won’t go that route and could be heading for much more friendly for developers in such a way that it is much easier for them to port their games to their platform and more importantly provide the ability to play without additional fees or individual sales but as an extra leg in the price we already pay for our monthly subscription. And all this without forgetting the advertising factor, which is gaining more weight every day within the business model that North Americans want to establish in the months to come.
This mixture of ease of access to a good catalog of games since an additional payment would not be necessary would mean two factors to be taken into account as decisive to truly believe that where Google beat it, Netflix has a chance to succeed.
