Survey: Strong demand for Netflix cloud gaming
September 7, 2023
Research reveals a third (33 per cent) of committed gamers across seven global markets have already used a cloud gaming service, alongside 10 per cent of casual gamers. The majority (82 per cent) of those who have tried cloud gaming are likely to use it again and the current uptake of cloud gaming services is highest in Spain (35 per cent) and the US (32 per cent), and lowest in France (16 per cent).
While nearly 44 per cent of ‘non-passionate’ gamers and 26 per cent of passionate gamers weren’t aware of cloud gaming prior to taking the survey, the concept is appealing. Of those yet to try it, Spanish gamers are most open to doing so (44 per cent), followed by the US (36 per cent) and the UK (30 per cent).
The study was conducted in June 2023 by market research firm Savanta and covers a representative sample of around 12,000 gamers – defined as anyone who plays electronic games on any device – across seven markets (Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, UK and US).
Shaun Austin, senior vice president media at Savanta, said: “Committed gamers, the audience Microsoft is targeting with its mooted $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, represents a significant – and lucrative – market segment. However, it would be short-sighted to discount the collective opportunity in casual gamers. Seventy per cent of our sample play mainly on their smartphone and over half (52 per cent) prefer freemium games. The potential in this segment has certainly not been lost on Netflix. It has recently announced it is extending its offer from downloadable mobile games to a fully-fledged cloud gaming service, which will be accessible through connected TVs and laptops.”
Netflix soft-launched gaming downloads through its mobile app in November 2021. A fifth (22 per cent) of Savanta’s sample have already downloaded at least one game, and the majority (77 per cent) would likely do so again. Nearly half (45 per cent) of those who had not previously heard about Netflix games would use the current service.
Netflix’s cloud gaming proposition comes at a time when one in five say buying games is the first entertainment luxury they would forgo in the cost-of-living crisis – ahead of magazines and gaming subscriptions (15 per cent each) and TV/film streaming subscriptions (12 per cent).
Austin concluded: “The failure of Google’s Stadia service suggests the committed gamer segment, one that obsesses over technical details like frame rates and data usage caps, is always going to be a tough one to crack. Netflix is taking a very different strategy in following the likes of Facebook to target the casual market and positioning games as a value add, rather than a destination. Games represent sticky content for a platform likely to be hit hard both by the cost-of-living-crisis and the Writers’ Strike. Moreover, Netflix’s IP in the gaming space could offer a host of brand extension opportunities, including product placement, for brand advertisers. Customers don’t need to give anything up, rather they have all to gain. If 45 per cent of Netflix’s global audience of 238 million gives gaming a go, then Netflix could become a major force in cloud gaming space.”