Starting from today, Netflix has initiated a limited test phase where it is streaming video games directly to devices, eliminating the necessity of downloading entire games or owning powerful gaming consoles or computers. This novel approach is currently being tested in Canada and the United Kingdom and supports select TV models, as well as Windows PCs, macOS computers, and mobile devices. Notably, popular consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Sony's PlayStation 5 are not part of the currently supported devices.
The announcement was made through a blog post on Netflix's website, following the discreet release of the "Netflix Game Controller" app for iOS devices last week. Netflix's Vice President of Games, Mike Verdu, emphasized that this endeavor is in its early stages, and for now, beta testers will have access to two games: the eerie narrative adventure game "Oxenfree" developed by Night School Studio (which Netflix acquired in 2021) and the gem-mining arcade game "Molehew's Mining Adventure."
Verdu clarified that this limited beta aims to evaluate their game streaming technology and controller while refining the overall member experience over time. This approach allows larger and more complex games to be streamed from remote servers to supported devices, with a solid internet connection being the primary requirement for playing.
The range of supported devices for this initial test includes Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and Walmart ONN TVs. Netflix plans to continually add support for more devices as the initiative progresses.
As of now, no mention has been made regarding support for video game controllers or traditional gaming consoles. The current iOS controller app offers a limited number of buttons, suggesting that more complex games may be introduced once the app is refined or when support for physical controllers is integrated.
The significance of Netflix's entry into gaming lies in the competition for user attention alongside other entertainment options like movies, television, and social media. While Netflix's rivals such as Amazon and Apple have already ventured into gaming, Netflix's move could tap into a vast market. Gaming, like films, offers immersive storytelling experiences, but with the added element of choice and interactivity.
The gaming industry has grown substantially, with research from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) indicating that 212.6 million Americans play games for at least an hour per week. Moreover, gaming is not confined to a specific demographic, as 62% of adults over 18 and 76% of children under 18 in the United States play video games. Mobile devices are a popular gaming platform, with 64% of gamers using them for gaming compared to 45% who use computers.
This venture into gaming has been a long time coming for Netflix. By testing the capability to stream playable games to a wide range of devices capable of running Netflix's core video content, the company could significantly expand the gaming community and potentially address content shortages resulting from strikes within the entertainment industry.
