Netflix for games – but now for real
Many gaming services are already the ‘Netflix for games’ mentioned, but now Netflix is getting started with it. The company has confirmed that the game service will be available for free to existing subscribers. Still in its early stages, it will build on previous interactive activities, such as the Stranger Things games and Black Mirror Bandersnatch, where you could choose the course of the story. Gaming is a new content category for Netflix that they want to focus on, after movies, animations and reality TV. In the meantime, investments will also be made in the existing categories.
Competition for Apple Arcade?
Netflix wants to focus mainly on games designed for mobile devices. This puts it in the field of Apple Arcade, which also focuses explicitly on mobile. At Apple you pay €4.99 per month for the whole family and you get access to more than 200 ad-free games. You can play it on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. It has not yet been announced on which platforms Netflix will offer the games, but at least iPhone and iPad will be present.
Another question is how Apple handles it. It is not allowed to release an alternative app store on the iPhone, so Netflix is probably dependent on a solution in the browser or streaming. Google Stadia, Microsoft xCloud and other similar platforms were previously denied by Apple. It could lead to another ‘Apple vs. Epic's struggle.
Netflix's interest in games was apparent earlier this year. The company hired former Electronic Arts CEO Mike Verdu as head of game development and set up a separate division for games.