Play Games on YouTube, LinkedIn, and More!

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Highlights

YouTube, LinkedIn, and Netflix introduce gaming features to engage users.
Netflix offers nearly 100 games free for subscribers.
YouTube Playables and LinkedIn’s games are available for free to all users.

Media Companies Integrate Gaming to Captivate Users

The trend of media companies incorporating games into their platforms has been growing. With user attention becoming increasingly competitive and attention spans dwindling, streaming services and apps are exploring gaming to retain users. The global gaming market, valued at around $221 billion, offers an enticing revenue stream.

Netflix Games: Diverse and Integrated

Netflix has introduced a wide array of games, with nearly 100 titles including popular ones like GTA: The Trilogy, Assassin’s Creed, and Monument Valley. Leveraging its vast IP, Netflix offers games tied to its original series such as “Love Is Blind,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” and “Stranger Things.” These games are free for Netflix subscribers and accessible via the mobile app on iOS and Android devices. Subscriptions range from $6.99/month (Standard with ads) to $22.99/month (Premium). Since its gaming debut in 2021, Netflix has seen a surge in downloads, reaching 81.2 million worldwide in 2023. The platform is expanding with features like browser-based gameplay, gamer tags, and testing a cloud gaming service.

YouTube Playables: Casual and Accessible

YouTube, a hub for gamers to livestream and create content, integrated gaming features into its service in May 2024. “Playables” offers over 75 minigames, including Angry Birds Showdown, Cut the Rope, Trivia Crack, and 8 Ball Billiards Classic. Initially exclusive to Premium subscribers, these games are now free for all users on desktop, Android, and iOS devices, requiring no downloads. Designed for casual play, they serve as easy distractions during commutes or between video viewing sessions.

Sling TV Arcade: Interactive and Engaging

Facing competitive challenges, Sling TV introduced “Arcade,” a free gaming platform to attract and retain users. Arcade allows viewers to play classic games like Doodle Jump, Solitaire Clash, Tetris, and Wheel of Fortune while watching TV shows or movies. This split-screen feature is convenient for relaxing TV days. Arcade is available on Sling TV ($40-$45/month) and Sling Freestream, the free ad-supported service, on select devices including Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Comcast, Samsung, and Vizio.

LinkedIn’s Professional Gaming

LinkedIn has ventured into gaming to expand beyond professional networking. In May, LinkedIn launched three games: Queens, a Sudoku-style game; Crossclimb, a trivia game; and Pinpoint, similar to the New York Times’ Connections game. These games are designed to foster connections within users’ networks and can be played once a day with first-degree connections.

Expanding Gaming Horizons

Entertainment platforms are not the only ones exploring gaming. Reliance and BlackRock formed a joint venture, investing $150 million each to offer tech-enabled, affordable investment solutions in India. This move reflects the growing interest in gaming and digital engagement across various sectors.