# Netflix expanding into video games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 22, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079 "2021-07-22T20:57:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/1 "2021-07-22T20:57:46Z")
Since the human race has of late relentlessly tied prosperity to growth: > **[Netflix confirms move into video games as its growth slows](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-technology-coronavirus-pandemic-games-video-games-2482bd5c5aa65b551da95f602d6311f8)** > > SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Netflix reported its worst slowdown in subscriber growth in eight years as people emerge from their pandemic cocoons. So it’s adding a new attraction to its marquee: Video games. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/2 "2021-07-23T12:38:09Z")
They’re going to have a tough time competing with Steam. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/3 "2021-07-23T12:41:58Z")
Netflix has a shitload of infrastructure and capitol but yeah, I think they likely do not understand the market or the clientele as well as Valve does. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/4 "2021-07-23T13:06:09Z")
It doesn’t sound to me like they’ll be competing in Steam’s market. It sounds like you’ll get games along with your Netflix subscription. It seems more to have something in addition to the video content to differentiate themselves. That said, the talk of mobile games doesn’t sound like something that would be that appealing to subscribe for. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/5 "2021-07-23T16:29:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > They’re going to have a tough time competing with Steam. Googling, Valve Corp, which owns Steam has a $77 billion market cap while EA is at about $41 billion. So they could buy one of them? ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/6 "2021-07-24T04:00:14Z")
Reminder Amazon and Google with their untold billions both recently tried getting into the streaming game industry with DISASTROUS results. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/7 "2021-07-24T04:11:52Z")
What has Microsoft spent on Xbox and buying game companies since it started the business? How much have they made? I don’t actually know what the numbers are but I suspect it’s cost them billions. And yet they seem to think it’s a worthwhile business. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/8 "2021-07-24T22:14:56Z")
As successful as Xbox has been for them Microsoft already has one failed and dead game venture, “Games for Windows” which was basically their attempt at being Steam and bringing an Xbox Live interface to PCs. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/9 "2021-07-25T18:30:33Z")
But “Games for Windows” was really horribly implemented and was a chore to use. Steam was streamlined even back then and has only improved the UX as time has gone on. GFW(L) never had a good UX. It was everything wrong with DRM turned up to 11. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-expanding-into-video-games/947079/10 "2021-07-27T01:28:02Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Reminder Amazon and Google with their untold billions both recently tried getting into the streaming game industry with DISASTROUS results. As I’ve said in another thread, I just happened to grab a Stadia controller when I needed to purchase a new Chromecast (I assume they are getting rid of excess stock, the Stadia bundle was the same price as just a Chromecast), and I really do think it is a shame that it didn’t take off; it works really, really well. I was quite surprised that it didn’t seem any different than playing locally.