Netflix Says Cloud Gaming Is Its Bet for a ‘Post-Console World’

Netflix has never hidden that it sees gaming as part of its future, but co-CEO Ted Sarandos used an appearance at Bloomberg’s Screentime event on October 2 to spell out exactly what kind of gaming company Netflix wants to be. The short version: less about prestige, big-budget titles, and more about turning the television itself into a cloud gaming machine.

A Post-Console Pitch

Asked about where gaming fits into Netflix’s business, Sarandos framed the opportunity around a future where consoles matter less and TVs matter more. He described a landscape in which “there’s going to be all kinds of opportunities for gaming on the television,” with Netflix leaning on cloud streaming rather than installs or dedicated hardware. The company’s existing approach already points that way, players use their phones as controllers to stream games directly to a TV, the same setup Netflix has been building out since it first tested cloud play a few years ago.

Netflix Games, the company’s mobile and cloud gaming service.

Branded Games Over Big Budgets

Sarandos was clear that Netflix isn’t chasing the kind of expensive, narrative-driven productions that define much of the console market. Instead, the company’s interest leans toward lower-effort, casual titles built around its own shows and films, games that extend an existing brand rather than stand as a major investment on their own. On the subject of buying its way into the industry, he said Netflix has no specific plans to acquire a major game publisher or studio right now, though he stopped short of ruling it out altogether, saying organic growth remains the preferred path.

Still in It for the Long Run

When asked directly whether Netflix will still be making games in five years, Sarandos didn’t hesitate, he simply said he believes so. That matches what the company has reported throughout 2026, including steep growth in monthly cloud gaming players and in Netflix’s kids-focused Playground titles. It’s also consistent with recent comments from Sarandos on the film and TV side, where he has been equally willing to discuss Netflix’s strategy in detail. For now, gaming remains a smaller, TV-centric bet rather than a push to rival PlayStation or Xbox outright.

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Picture Source: Netflix