Netflix will soon be streaming games to your phone. When it comes, you play, more

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Netflix is ​​getting into video games.

Angela Lang / CNET

Veteran streaming service Netflix is ​​expanding into video games and plans to offer ad-free games for mobile devices at no additional cost to subscribers as early as next year. Netflix’s plans to enter the gaming world may not be the first, but they could rock the industry for other competing services and subscriptions as well.

The streaming market is completely saturated – these days, it would be hard to find a channel that doesn’t offer some kind of streaming option (hello, CNN Plus). And as multiple movies and shows overlap across different services, companies are always looking for ways to stand out.

Numerous services have experimented with video game subscriptions. Last year, Amazon (creator of Prime Video) invested in Luna, a cloud gaming service and also runs its own game studio. Google (owner of YouTube) launched the Stadia game streaming service in 2019. And Apple, which launched Apple TV Plus last year, also sought to expand its audience with the Apple Arcade mobile games subscription service. in 2019. Zoom is also approaching games with poker, Heads Up and Kahoot.

We will tell you what we know about the Netflix project, still in its infancy, and will keep you updated as we learn more. CNET has reached out to Netflix for comment and we will update when we hear news.

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What games will Netflix offer?

Netflix hasn’t announced any specific games yet, but the streaming giant has hired former Electronic Arts and Facebook executive Mike Verdu for the project. EA is a powerful game publisher that owns popular titles like The Sims, Mass Effect, FIFA 21, Madden 21, and Medal of Honor. Facebook was also hosting compelling titles like FarmVille and Candy Crush.

Netflix’s gaming adventure will begin with ad-free games for mobile devices such as phones and tablets, which will be available on the streaming service at no additional cost. The streaming service also said it will experiment with creating games based on existing Netflix franchises, as well as totally original stand-alone games that could potentially spawn spin-off movies or shows, as noted by CNET reporter Joan Solsman.

A Shadow and Bone game would be pretty cool.

Netflix

We may see Netflix start making deals with developers and publishers to bring popular mobile games to the platform ad-free, similar to what you could get with an Apple Arcade subscription.

When can I play video games on Netflix?

Netflix hasn’t provided a specific date yet, but the service plans to start adding games to its platform in 2022, according to a Bloomberg report. During a July 20 discussion of the company’s second-quarter earnings, Netflix said it was in the “early stages” of a “multi-year effort”.

It is also likely that once games start being added, Netflix will monitor audience reception of the games and regulate future content, as other services have done. For example, last year, Apple Arcade canceled a number of games in search of titles that could better guide subscribers.

Will Netflix have console games?

During the July 20 meeting, Netflix executives said the service will initially focus on mobile gaming. But since so many devices support Netflix, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of expanding possibilities on Xbox, PlayStation, and computers. Verdu’s experience with games on different hardware and service platforms will also be beneficial for the future of the project.

Netflix was already immersed in gaming when it released the interactive “choose your own adventure” video Bandersnatch, based on the Black Mirror universe. The service also mentioned producing more interactive content like Bandersnatch in 2019.

For more information, check out 10 ways to save money on streaming and how to cut your cable TV cable in 2021.

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