Is Netflix Games going to compete with Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox has been enjoying a lot of success lately, from its popular Xbox Game Pass to bringing old games back to the console. With titles such as the old Call of Duty games, and the original Gears of War trilogy, Xbox has managed to become the top-selling console in some regions, while its popularity has grown.

But now, it seems that Xbox will have some new competition in the industry. We’re talking about Netflix Games. Yes, the streaming giant is coming to dominate the gaming industry, as well. In a recent announcement, Netflix said it’s testing games on more devices with two games.

Today, we’re taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix — TVs, computers, and mobile.

Netflix

The two games, Oxenfree and Molehew’s Mining Adventure will make their way to Windows 11 PCs and Macs, TVs, and mobile phones, to play on Netflix. They are part of a Beta phase which is live to a limited number of users in the US and the UK regions.

The Beta phase is testing Netflix’s streaming-based gaming technology is meant to improve the experience on multiple devices. The streaming giant already has the support of many brands, including Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and Walmart ONN. And new devices will be added ongoingly.

So, the question is somehow natural. Is Xbox Game Pass in danger now that Netflix Games will be an active player on the market? Well, let’s take a closer look.

Will Netflix Games and Xbox Game Pass really be in a competition?

Well, Netflix is already known for one thing: its streaming content. From movies to series, and reality shows, the streaming giant is all about relaxing. But not just any kind of relaxing, but the one that doesn’t involve a lot of mental action.

Users usually watch Netflix when they want to relax, that’s why the streaming platform is so popular. And the Netflix audience is also well-defined. There are people who love passive entertainment, and visual stories that are told with as little interaction as possible. The popular Netflix and Chill is a testament to that.

On the other hand, people who are subscribed to an Xbox Game Pass are gamers most of the time. Gaming is their hobby, and they tend to do it in their free time. They also love interactive stories, and they spend quite the time figuring out easter eggs, collecting items, or gearing up.

Whether we talk about hardcore gamers or casual gamers, these people are individuals who love video games and not just the relaxing part of it, but as a whole. Microsoft even released consoles for each of these types of gamers, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X, and most people purchased both versions.

Plus, with an already huge library of games and thousands of other games coming up specifically for Xbox, it might seem hard for any other gaming platform to compete with it.

Not necessarily a platform for gamers

For Netflix Games to really compete with Xbox Game Pass, the streaming giant would have to somehow convince a majority of its audience that video games are also as potent as movies and series are. This is true, sure, but they’re a different medium altogether.

Netflix actually tried this sort of thing with Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which is an interactive Black Mirror episode that requires the viewers to make their own choices. The episode was well received, but its interactivity was criticized as being too wearisome, and it can easily ruin the viewing experience.

By the way it looks, Netflix Games can end up being the platform where people play games while they wait for the food to arrive for a TV binge. Or playing something very fun with friends on a hangout. But for a gamer that loves playing video games? Much less likely.

And its streaming-based gaming technology, while very similar to Stadia, will allow you to play games on every device. However, Stadia is gone, and similar platforms are already here, such as GeForce Now. So there’s little chance Netflix Games will actually be an important player on the market. For now, it seems aimless, without a specific target in mind.

However, time will prove if these words are true or not, but until then, if Netflix really wants to take a bite from the gaming industry, then it has to deliver.

But what are your thoughts about it? Let us know.