There is a huge choice when it comes to online gaming. It is possible to play online games using a computer, mobile phone, console and handheld device. Thanks to the quality of internet connections, online gaming is more popular than ever and some big brands including Netflix and Amazon are trying to grab their market share. Can big brands like Netflix and Amazon compete in the online gaming market?
Netflix
Netflix is known for streaming movies and TV shows. Some of the most popular shows of the last decade have been produced by Netflix and can only be viewed through the streaming service. Although Netflix has had a lot of success with its shows, it has decided to enter the online gaming market. You’ll have to go back to November 2021 to find the launch of the Netflix gaming service, which allowed those with a subscription to play mobile games. The games were available for Android devices and Netflix has since expanded their offerings, with some games based on their popular shows.
Amazon
Amazon has transformed beyond recognition from its beginnings as a website selling music and videos before expanding to include books from the UK and Germany. Amazon is now a massive company offering every product you can think of, as well as Amazon Prime, a streaming service that shows exclusive and third-party content. One of the newer additions to the Amazon brand is Amazon Prime Gaming, offering a selection of free PC games each month. Each game will be removed at the end of the month but can be downloaded and kept forever. There is no additional cost for Amazon Prime Gaming and it falls under the regular Prime subscription.
A highly competitive market
The online gaming world is a highly competitive market and releasing a few PC games each month or a small number of Android-based games is not going to worry the big online gaming brands. There is already tremendous competition in the online gambling market, with the well-known game developers all competing against each other for players. In addition to the traditional types of online games, there are other types of online games to consider including online casino games as well as bingo and lotteries.
Why it might fail
Aside from the competition, there are other reasons why it will be extremely difficult for Amazon and Netflix to compete in the online gaming market. Google wasn’t entirely successful with Google Stadia either and had to shut it down. Watching a show and playing a game are two completely different things. Watching a show is passive while playing an online game is active and attracts different types of people. Most people who want to watch a show turn to Netflix, but those who want to play an online game turn to their PC, console, or smartphone. Diversification is difficult and many companies have tried and failed in the past. It’s great that both Netflix and Amazon offer online games to their subscribers, but it’s highly unlikely that they will seriously compete in the online gaming market.
