Netflix Games now available on Android (yes, that Netflix)

Over the past few years, companies have been looking to build the “Netflix of games” via cloud. Particularly with the likes of Microsoft (xcloud), Nvidia (GeForceNow), Google (Stadia), and even Amazon (Luna). But Netflix itself is getting in on the action. So, after months of testing the streaming giant has finally launched its game service on Android.

How Netflix Games work

Contrary to what you might think, games will be downloaded directly to your devices. You can find the available games under Netflix Games in your Android app. Each of these titles is available for download on the Play Store. While this may be surprising coming from a company known for streaming, Netflix sees this as the “early days of creating a great gaming experience.” So there’s every bit of chance that the company will eventually move to a streaming version like Google Stadia or Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud gaming (xcloud).

As of now, you can find the following exclusive titles,

• Stranger Things: 1984
• Stranger Things 3: The Game
• Shooting Hoops
• Teeter Up
• Card Blast

You can download each of these games to each profile on your Netflix account, across multiple Android devices. For some of these titles, you won’t even need internet access. Mind you, Netflix Games won’t be available on kids profiles, If you’ve also set up a PIN on your adult profile, you’ll need this to play the games too.

Do I have to pay for this?

No. Netflix Games won’t charge any extra fees from existing subscribers. At least for the moment. There won’t be any ads or in-app purchases either.

So as long as you have a valid Netflix login, you should be good to go regardless of your subscription plan. Though this could change in the future should Netflix get ambitious with its gaming plans.

The two Stranger Things games were previously available on the Play Store. But were shortly delisted and brought back under its game service. You can now access these titles with your existing subscription. Just ensure you update your Netflix app on your Android device.

Is it only Android?

In case you were wondering, yes, this is only available on Android (8.0 and above) at the moment. But Netflix states that this will also expand to iOS devices soon. However, this might pose challenges for Netflix considering Apple’s App Store policies.

Apple’s current policies prevent third-party apps from operating as a hub for games. The only workaround for this is by offering games as a web app, which is exactly what Facebook did. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman puts it, an all-in-one gaming service is unlikely on Apple anytime soon. Instead, the streaming giant might have to settle for offering its games individually on the App Store, similar to how it’s currently structured on Android.

Why is Netflix even getting into games?

For one thing, it’s an enticing market. The global gaming industry currently exceeds USD 300 billion. Therefore, diving into gaming could potentially open up expansive opportunities for the streaming giant. The five games on the Google Play Store will serve as a test of sorts on the viability of Netflix Games.

We’re just getting started. We’re excited to continue improving our mobile gaming experience and adding to our entertainment offering in the months ahead.

Mike Verdu, VP of Game Development at Netflix

Additionally, other tech giants are already moving ahead with the idea of a game streaming future. Microsoft is already looking to make headway, everything from its Xbox Game Pass subscription to acquiring large-scale game studios. So it makes sense that the company that’s literally known for streaming content to enter the market. Plus, it comes with the added benefit of a total of over 200 million subscribers in over 100 countries. There aren’t many companies that boast those numbers, yet.

According to Mike Verdu, VP of Game Development at Netflix, the company is keen on catering to “every kind of player” with its game offering. Though there aren’t any specific announcements on streaming games like xcloud or Sony’s PlayStation Now does, the likelihood remains a very real possibility in the future.