Netflix is testing game streaming in South Africa, offering a new way for subscribers to enjoy games without downloads. The service is currently limited to the Netflix website and appears to be rolling out gradually. Initial tests show promising stability and performance, with plans to expand game availability in the future.
Netflix has been offering mobile games for free to its subscribers since 2021. In 2023, the platform began testing game streaming, and this functionality is currently rolling out in South Africa. As of now, the option to stream games is only available on the Netflix website, and it hasn't appeared on our Apple TV yet. This suggests that the rollout is gradual. We tested the service this morning by playing a bit of Oxenfree, and the experience was excellent.
The game is a point-and-click adventure, but the stream was incredibly stable, with no lag detected. While your experience might vary depending on your internet connection, network traffic, and other factors, Netflix's game streaming service appears to be solid. We also tried Infernax and had to stop playing because we knew we could easily spend several hours engrossed in the game. The games load fairly quickly considering they are being streamed, and while we're playing on a 1080p display, the quality is very good with no noticeable artifacts or visual lag. Compared to GeForce Now, Netflix's game streaming offering is equally impressive, although the selection of games is significantly more limited. However, given GeForce Now's limited availability in many regions, Netflix's entry into the market is a very exciting development for gamers. We don't anticipate integration with platforms like Steam or Xbox (although anything is possible in the future), but even a few standout titles will encourage users to engage with the service. Netflix subscribers who want to play games on their TV will need to download a controller app for their smartphone. This might introduce some latency, so keep that in mind. Alternatively, there's no reason why you couldn't connect a Bluetooth-enabled controller to your TV or set-top box and use it for Netflix games. The web interface allows you to select a preferred controller, so hopefully, this will also apply to the TV interface. Although the available games are currently limited, there's nothing preventing Netflix from expanding its library and offering more titles, potentially even AAA games, through streaming. For example, Netflix already has The Witcher, so there's a possibility that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt could eventually be available on the platform, if it can handle such a demanding game. This leads to an important point: while we'd love to stream AAA games, we also realize that these games require substantial computing power. It's likely that the initial selection will be limited to games that could run on a low-powered device, at least for the foreseeable future. We're open to being proven wrong, though. The best part is that as long as you have a Netflix subscription, you don't need any additional accounts or pay extra fees. It's uncertain if this will remain the case as the game streaming platform improves and gains popularity. The concept of game streaming aligns well with Netflix's strategy. The company boasts a massive content delivery network that spans the globe. It also allows internet service providers (ISPs) to localize Netflix traffic, which not only reduces buffering for content streaming but also lowers latency for game streaming. Netflix peers at two sites in South Africa: JINX and NAPAfrica IX, both located in Johannesburg. The timeframe for Netflix's game streaming service to reach all users is unclear at this stage, but keep an eye on your Homepage for the Games Beta selection.
NETFLIX GAMESTREAMING SOUTH AFRICA MOBILE GAMES GAME SERVICE CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK LATENCY
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