Netflix is Planning to Add Video Games to Service

Between Google Stadia, xCloud, PlayStation Now, GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and several others, streaming platforms for video games have become saturated.

Netflix is Planning to Add Video Games to Service

Between Google Stadia, xCloud, PlayStation Now, GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and several others, streaming platforms for video games have become saturated. 

Yet it’s still growing, it seems, as a new report claims that film and TV streaming service Netflix is preparing to enter the market, too. That means that Netflix subscribers could soon have the option to stream games.

The report about Netflix’s aspirations comes from Bloomberg, which claims that the streaming service is currently planning out its expansion into supporting video games.

Video games will even appear within the current Netflix application, listed as if they were a different genre of film. With that in mind, Netflix doesn’t plan to charge extra over it current subscription plans, though it isn’t clarified if a certain tier of Netflix subscription will be required like how the service charges more for 4K content.

A timeframe for when Netflix could launch its video game streaming support was also provided by Bloomberg. The service is said to be tentatively planned to launch within the next year.

That would put Netflix’s launch well after the release of many of its biggest competitors, time during which xCloud and Stadia could expand their userbase and further develop their platforms. Of course, Netflix may be prioritizing the monetization of existing Netflix subscribers over expanding.

The last piece of Bloomberg’s report says that Netflix has hired Mike Verdu to oversee the effort at the company. Verdu has worked at Facebook since 2019 overseeing the company’s AR/VR content efforts, working to bring new game developers to the Oculus virtual reality platform.

Prior to that, he gained executive-level experience with EA Mobile, Zynga, Atari, and other gaming companies. The language Bloomberg uses suggests Verdu has yet to officially make the transition to Netflix.

The report from Bloomberg comes from a source involved in Netflix’s gaming deliberations, but who refused to be named in the article. As evidence of Netflix’s plans, the report refers to a job listing for a Director of Project Innovation at Netflix. This listing is said to be for Netflix’s gaming division, which is said to grow rapidly in the months to come.

There’s no argument that Netflix entering the game streaming market could potentially mark a shift in power within the growing industry. After all, no leader has yet to establish itself. However, there’s also a lot of risk involved. 

Google has already abandoned its plans to develop games for its own platform and some worry it could shut down Stadia entirely in time. Regardless, expect to hear more about Netflix‘s plans in the months to come.

Originally published at Game rant