Netflix has officially launched it’s Gaming service in the U.S., and while it isn’t impressive right now, I hold some hope for the future of Netflix gaming. The streaming platform has already has some of the best video game adaptations available, so naturally, the next step is to start going in the opposite direction.

With companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google also going all in on game streaming, it’s unlikely that everyone is going to win the race. Here’s why I think the Netflix Gaming service could turn out to be great.

1. Expanding from Netflix original content

One of the main advantages Netflix has over it’s competitors in this space is that the brand is already known for it’s original content. By starting their platform off with mobile games like Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3: The Game, Netflix is offering a glimpse of what the future of the service could look like. While these games aren’t wildly exciting in themselves, the idea of being able to watch a great show while playing the game at the same time has some serious potential.

It’s also worth noting that by creating a plethora of Netflix Original Anime, the possibilities expand to genres like JRPGs and beyond. We won’t really know what direction the streaming platform will take, but it stands to reason that there will be games relating to many of the more popular categories.

2. Interactive TV Shows could take it further

Netflix has already experimented with a variety of interactive TV shows, the most notable being Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. While the novelty of being able to choose the direction a show goes was wildly popular for a short time, interest has since died down a bit. However, the idea of Netflix getting into gaming brings the potential for interactive television like we’ve never seen before. Choosing your adventure is one thing, being able to interact with your adventure at a deeper level offers a lot more intrigue.

Games are already becoming more and more like movies now that we have recognizable actors being ported into games like mass effect and Far Cry 6, so blending the genres isn’t unheard of. The main difference is that it would be movies becoming more like games, so there would be less direct gameplay.

3. Diving deeper into a fanbase

How many times do you watch one of the best Netflix shows only to find yourself wanting to talk about it with someone else immediately? While taking to twitter and interacting with random people on the internet who also have opinions is always an option, what if you could dive into a game full of other people who are watching it as well? I’m not entirely sure how this would work, but I can see how something like this could easily become popular.

With games like Fortnite trying to create a metaverse that brings people together into a virtual environment, Netflix could do something similar by focusing on specific interests. Rather than bringing entertainment into the game, all they would have to do is bring people together within the existing entertainment.

4. Movies and shows that were made to become games

Unlike improving the interactive nature of movies and shows, the creation of new content with the intention of turning it into a game offers up a whole host of new opportunities. We often see games successfully becoming TV shows, Pokémon is one such example, but it’s not often we see this done purposefully the other way around.

While this also opens up the potential for some absolutely terrible movies and shows that the company tries to force toward a gaming experience, my hope is that it will be something much more. As someone who is a big fan of RPG anime, I have high hopes for the blending of entertainment in this way.

5. It comes with your Netflix subscription

One of the biggest selling points for Netflix gaming for me is that I don’t have to pay for it. I already have a Netflix subscription, and according to the most recent press release, that’s all I will need to access the games. This means there won’t be any ads or in-app purchases because I am already paying for the service.

In addition to this added service, you will also be able to access games on every profile of your account. So depending on what subscription you have, you can have multiple family members playing games on multiple devices. While the addition of a gaming service will likely eventually increase the cost of your Netflix membership, currently it does not. Hopefully it will stay that way.

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