Plans to Offer Video Games via Netflix Canned
During an investor meeting yesterday, the CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings broke the news that the company’s plans to offer video games via their DVD distribution service have been canceled.
A while back, you may recall Mr. Hastings’ video announcement, declaring that Netflix would be splitting into two services, Netflix proper and Qwikster. Netflix would become a streaming-only service, while Qwikster would become the companies mail-based service, offering DVDs, Blu-rays and video games.
Now that plans for Qwikster have been axed, Netflix has remained the single hub for company’s streaming and mail service. Whether or not video games would be added to the company’s library had yet to be addressed, until now. And while there may not be any plans for video games right now, Hastings did confirm that the company is looking to bring 3D streaming into the mix at some point to complement their Blu-ray 3D movie library.
With options like GameFly and Redbox, this announcement is but a minor blow to the gaming community. While another option for renting content would be nice, the immediacy and convenience of Redbox means that the news isn’t too terrible.
[Via]
6 Responses to “Plans to Offer Video Games via Netflix Canned”
3D streaming would be welcoming…
If these rumors of the next Xbox not playing used games are true it could have something to do with this decision (not that Netflix would know yet) also it would practically kill Gamefly.
And if M$ actually did that then they would be losing the console wars going forward since there would be fewer people, mainly parents, willing to pay for that type of system that locks you into a monopoly. Just look at the PC market how only “Windows” is installed on all computers sold in stores, you can’t buy a PC from Dell, IBM or other major PC Maker without Windows.
So refusing to load games bought at GameStop or other “Used Game” outlet would not work because it will eventually send them to Sony or Nintendo or even the “M$ Hacker Universe” to bypass that type of insanity.
Unless Sony and Nintendo put the same restriction on their new consoles then we’re all screwed. Hopefully it won’t happen on any of the consoles.
You forgot about Apples OS; but M$ does hog most of the market. Linux is never an option for pre-built systems, M$ would sue if anybody did sell a system with Linux already installed.
Well Sony may have something in place to do this as well. If recall the Sony had a “Rewards” program for the Ps3. although it didn’t work out they had a system in place to determine if the game was used or not. Now it wasn’t intended for this purpose or was it ? Hmmm