Game Streaming Services: A Netflix-Style Revolution for Gamers

The world of gaming has taken a great leap, with tech giants like PS, Xbox, Amazon, etc., adopting the “Netflix Model” for gaming. Their subscription models make it possible for you to stream high-quality AAA video games, anywhere.?

And the best part is that you do not require a sophisticated console or PC to access them. Game streaming sounds incredible, right?

This is good news not only for the players but also for game development companies because they can reach a wider audience without the barrier of gaming platforms.

Hence, many game studios are creating new games or optimizing their already-released games for game streaming.

How Does the Game Subscription Model Work?

Gaming subscription allows players to access a library of video games for a recurring fee for a week, a month, or a year. There are many different types of gaming subscriptions, such as platform-specific and game-specific subscriptions.

Similar to how you access movies, TV shows, and videos on Netflix, now you can stream video games on the cloud.

Statistics show that 27% of video gamers spend 1 to 5 hours streaming video games weekly. This trend indicates that there is a consistent audience base for streaming video games.

This is seen as a golden opportunity by successful gaming companies?

Even the video-streaming giant Netflix took this to their advantage and pushed its cloud gaming services to selected locations in October 2023. They are expected to plan a broader expansion to multiple locations in the future.?

It is also releasing video games based on their popular movie and series titles. Money Heist, Love is Hard, and Queen’s Gambit are some of the Netflix-owned IP games they released in 2023.?

Game Streaming Is Transforming the Industry

The world is well-adjusted to streaming movies, TV, and music. Now, the time for video games to turn to streaming services has knocked on the door.?

To put it in an actual sense, it is a long-awaited change that is turning into a reality.

Now more than ever, many gaming brands are incorporating streaming services. Xbox Play Pass, PlayStation Plus, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass are some of the subscription services that follow the Netflix streaming model.

Recently, Ubisoft also started offering subscription services for $7.5 per month, where you can access their library of old and new games. The company said this subscription model is turning out better than expected. The players have been trying the Ubisoft subscription for a month, and they are making actual purchases of the games.?

A few other subscription services, such as GeForce Now and Google Stadia, do not follow the Netflix model for streaming games. Let’s take Google Stadia as an example. This service allows you to purchase and stream games. However, unlike the Netflix subscription model, you need to buy each game.

The Ubisoft CEO, Trembley, said, “Players should become comfortable not owning games physically.” Though his comment faced a huge backlash among the players who prefer owning physical games, we cannot dismiss the fact that the subscription models are here to stay.?

Is Game Streaming the End of Consoles?

Industry experts predict that the rise of game streaming might be the downfall of consoles. When players can access high-quality games anytime, they will not want to buy consoles — which, by the way, are much costlier.

Consoles will face another significant impact; their exclusiveness will be lost.? Every console has an exclusive library of games, and cloud streaming allows players to play the games on any device. Thus, the players will no longer want to buy the consoles to access their favorite games.

But we cannot say anything for sure.?

As there are hardcore gamers who prefer owning physical copies of games, we can hope that consoles will survive the upcoming digital transformation.?

The Future of the “Netflix Model” in the Gaming Industry

We could feel a subtle shift in the gaming industry from traditional sales to subscription services, and the entire industry is either already shifting or preparing to embrace the “Netflix Model” for streaming games.?

Along with VR, AR, 5G, and other technological advancements, the transition will be much faster than expected.?

Anyone who is not part of the transition might be left behind in the race for success. One thing is for sure—game streaming is the future of the video gaming industry, and it looks very promising.?