Unraveling Netflix's Gaming Strategy

Netflix recently announced several new gaming initiatives, including the opening of another internal studio and the exploration of a cloud gaming service. The company's gaming VP, Mike Verdu, emphasized that the cloud gaming offering is intended to be a value-added feature, rather than a replacement for traditional consoles. With dozens of games in the pipeline, including 14 from its internal studios, Netflix is slowly building its gaming library. However, the company faces significant challenges, including the fact that its games are not yet integrated into the main Netflix app and that the mobile gaming market is dominated by free-to-play titles. Despite these hurdles, Netflix's track record in streaming and its ability to attract top talent, such as Chacko Sonny, formerly of Overwatch, suggest that the company is committed to making a serious push into the gaming industry.