Netflix has expressed its intentions to enter the gaming scene and build a new gaming studio as well.
Netflix's VP of gaming Mike Verdu said during the TechCrunch Disrupt that the streaming giant is "seriously exploring a cloud gaming offering," and for this, will be opening a gaming studio somewhere in Southern California.
Verdu noted that the cloud gaming service, if ever it arrives, will not be something players can subscribe to as a "console replacement." Rather, it's simply meant to add more value to a Netflix subscription as compared to subscribing to a game-centered streaming service like Google's Stadia, which is on its way to completely shutting down.
"It's a completely different business model," Verdu said. "The hope is over time that it just becomes this very natural way to play games wherever you are."
The Netflix official also revealed that the streaming company is stepping up its gaming efforts and will be opening an internal studio in SoCal. This studio will focus on developing games for the upcoming game streaming offering.
The new studio will be led by former "Overwatch" executive producer Chacko Sonny, who left Blizzard last year as the latter game company was in the spotlight over allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment among workers.
Sonny's presence in Netflix's gaming arm, Verdu said, proves that the streaming giant is serious in its plans for the gaming industry.
"[Sonny] could have done anything, but he chose to come here," Verdu said. "You don't get people like that coming to your organization to build the next big thing in gaming unless there's a sense that we're really in it for the long haul and in it for the right reasons."
A Technical Success?
Verdu noted that it was actually fun to play games on Stadia and that technically, it was a success. But while that is the case, he mentioned that it did have some problems with its business structure.
Stadia did have a good run in recent years, but as many expected, it was bound to get shut down for some reasons. Stadia VP and General Manager Phil Harrison announced that it will completely stop in January of 2023, but existing subscribers can still access and play the games they have in their respective libraries.
Harrison did not elaborate on the reasons why they shut down Stadia. He simply mentioned that those who purchased relevant hardware, like the Stadia controller, from the Google Store will be refunded. What's more, those who bought such items from the Google Store can keep the items as well.
Interestingly, however, Google announced new Chromebooks designed for cloud gaming. These new machines, built by known Chromebook makers Acer, Asus and Lenovo, all feature great specs designed for high-end gaming.
