The trend of media companies incorporating games into their platforms has been steadily growing in recent years.
In a world where user attention is at a premium and attention spans are shrinking, streaming services and apps are seeking ways to engage their audience. It is logical for companies to venture into gaming to keep users on their platform, as the global gaming market is valued at around $221 billion, presenting a lucrative revenue opportunity.
Here are the latest companies delving into the gaming realm, along with details on their offerings, pricing, featured titles, and supported devices.
Netflix Games
Netflix boasts a diverse collection of games, with almost 100 titles including popular ones like GTA: The Trilogy, Assassin’s Creed, and Monument Valley. What sets Netflix apart is its extensive intellectual property (IP), enriching its library with games tied to original series such as “Love Is Blind,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” and “Stranger Things.”
Access to Netflix’s gaming content is complimentary for subscribers of its streaming service, accessible through its mobile app on iOS and Android devices. Players can peruse the game library, select a game, and download it separately from the respective app stores.
To experience the games, a Netflix subscription is required, with options for Standard with ads ($6.99/month), Standard ($15.49/month), and Premium ($22.99/month) plans. Currently, there are no in-app purchases or advertisements, though this may change in the future.
Netflix entered the gaming space in 2021, but its offering gained significant traction in 2023, garnering 81.2 million downloads globally from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Since its launch, Netflix has expanded its gaming features, introducing the ability to play games directly in a browser and testing a cloud gaming service, among other enhancements.
YouTube Playables
Gaming is a natural progression for YouTube, a popular platform among gamers for livestreaming and content creation. In May 2024, YouTube integrated gaming features, offering over 75 minigames to users.
Dubbed “Playables,” YouTube’s gaming selection includes titles like Angry Birds Showdown, Cut the Rope, Trivia Crack, and 8 Ball Billiards Classic. These games are designed for casual play during commutes or as a brief diversion between video watching sessions on YouTube.
While previously exclusive to Premium subscribers, YouTube’s minigames are now accessible to all users for free, available on desktop and mobile devices without the need for downloads.
Sling TV Arcade
Facing competitive pressures, Sling TV has launched a free gaming platform called “Arcade” to engage and retain users. The platform allows viewers to play classic arcade games while watching TV shows or movies.
Currently offering 10 titles such as Doodle Jump, Solitaire Clash, Tetris, and Wheel of Fortune, Sling TV plans to add more games periodically, especially before major sporting events.
Viewers can access the Arcade feature by selecting “Interactive Features” while watching a show or movie, integrating the game as a split screen adjacent to the content. This feature enhances the viewing experience, especially during binge-watching sessions.
Arcade is available on Sling TV subscriptions ($40-$45/month) and Sling Freestream, the ad-supported free streaming service, on select devices like Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Comcast, Samsung, and Vizio devices.
LinkedIn also has games
LinkedIn’s foray into gaming signifies a notable expansion, transforming the platform beyond professional networking.
In a bid to attract more users, LinkedIn introduced three games in May: Queens (a Sudoko-style game), Crossclimb (a trivia game), and Pinpoint (similar to the New York Times’ Connections game). These games promote connections with first-degree connections on LinkedIn and can be played once daily.
