Now, with the technical foundation for its latest game engine built out, development for CD Projekt’s future releases will likely be much easier. Cyberpunk, by and large, was fine on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X-it was the older consoles that proved to be too much of a challenge. In fact, the game’s main problem was trying to get its ambitious vision working on less powerful hardware. Other studios have been able to recover from flops by patching up games and adding more content. Many critics consider its prior release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, to be one of the best games of all time.ĬD Projekt could be poised for a comeback. Its ability to make games with amazing stories and characters, along with jaw-dropping visuals and immersive worlds is unrivaled. Shares of the company are down more than 50% since the disappointing December release of its Cyberpunk 2077 game, meaning an acquirer could have a rare opportunity to buy a quality asset at a discount.ĭespite its recent missteps, CD Projekt remains one of a handful of world-class developers. Why not jump-start that effort now?ĬD Projekt has had a rough year so far. And if Netflix follows its own playbook from video, it’s going to eventually have to pivot toward original content and build up its own internal capabilities to make games. Netflix executives have repeatedly said the company would be open to acquisitions that can improve its growth prospects. So here’s a modest proposal for how it could take a big swing now: Buy CD Projekt SA, the storied game maker and one of the largest companies in Poland. This all means Netflix’s incrementalist approach risks the company falling behind. have all been actively scooping up gaming studios, staking their claim on what researcher Newzoo projects will be a nearly $220 billion market opportunity by 2024. Companies like Microsoft Corp., Tencent Holdings Ltd. According to a Deloitte survey, Generation Z ranked playing videogames as their favorite entertainment activity-way above music, social media and television.īut while Netflix gingerly dips its toe into the gaming waters, its competitors are going big. This is a legitimate concern-and one that will only become more pressing thanks to demographic shifts. On an investor call, the company’s management said it would begin modestly with phone-based games, experimenting in a deliberate fashion to learn about the category.įor years, Netflix has publicly worried about how gaming was taking screen time away from video programming. Last week, the streaming video leader tempered expectations over the planned move into interactive entertainment.

is getting into gaming-but it’s starting small. Hi there, it’s Tae from the Bloomberg Opinion team.

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