Netflix has pressed play on its video game venture. The streaming video leader in July said it would be focusing on mobile games with its video game initiative, something the company had been interested in for years. On Tuesday, Netflix's first five games – Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up – became available on the Google Play store. They will begin coming to the Netflix mobile app for Android devices on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. "Whether you're craving a casual game you can start from scratch or an immersive experience that lets you dig deeper into your favorite stories, we want to begin to build a library of games that offers something for everyone," said Mike Verdu, vice president of game development for Netflix, in a blog post Tuesday.

Netflix Inc.'s foray into gaming is raising more eyebrows than excitement among analysts. Though there's long been speculation that Netflix might move into video games, Wednesday's news that it had hired an executive to lead the effort -- and would start adding titles to its streaming platform in the next year -- came as a surprise to many. The Los Gatos, California-based company doesn't have the infrastructure or the expertise to create or support top-tier games, analysts said. And that capability won't be easy to build. "They don't have a game catalog -- they haven't cultivated a base of gamers in their audience," said Lewis Ward, research director for gaming at IDC. "And they don't have an internal studio or infrastructure to handle a service."

Video games are a hot commodity right now. And we are not just talking about new releases such as "Cyberpunk 2077" or those coveted new consoles, the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Used video games are in demand, too, They can be great gifts, as they are sold at a discounted price. And if you are selling or trading them in, used games or consoles can provide a much-needed source of funds during the holidays – even if you are shopping for a new console for yourself. All players are not alike. One player's old game is another player's new treasure.

With new video game consoles out this week, Microsoft and Sony are decades-long incumbents in the industry. More than 25 years ago, Sony unleashed its first PlayStation onto the scene, barging into a marketplace dominated by Nintendo and, to a lesser extent, Sega. And seven years later, Microsoft brought forth its Xbox. Whether you are voting with your wallet this holiday season for a new Xbox Series X or S, or PlayStation 5, you can't argue these two tech giants have made countless contributions to advance video gaming over the years. Sony and Microsoft also expanded the audience.

At the same time as Microsoft and Sony are prepping new video game consoles to go on sale in 2020, games delivered and stored online – in the cloud – are becoming all the rage. Could the rise of cloud gaming mean that the next video game console system you buy may be the last? Even though we reliably stream music, TV and movies, for many reasons it will likely make sense to have a console, which is basically a powerful computer dedicated solely to games and entertainment, in your home. Ten years from now, you may be still setting aside money for the latest PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo system. "It's likely that consoles will still be around, with more of a niche presence (like gaming PCs) for the hard core who wants the fastest and most graphically pure experience," said Michael Pachter, analyst for Wedbush Securities.

SAN FRANCISCO – Ever-expanding Google will become a gaming company Tuesday with the launch of its Stadia cloud service, which lets people play console-quality video games in a web browser or on a smartphone. The internet giant hopes to break into the global video game industry -- expected to top $150 billion this year -- with cloud technology that could broaden audiences attracted by rich new features as well as ease of access with no more need for consoles. But analysts say Stadia's outlook is uncertain as its faces rivals such as PlayStation Now in an emerging and highly competitive market. Stadia plays into a trend in which content -- ranging from blockbuster films to work projects -- lives in the cloud and is accessible from any device. "All of these new services are merely pointing out that we don't need sophisticated hardware in the home to access entertainment," said Wedbush Securities equity research managing director Michael Pachter.

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" releases October 25th and is anticipated to be the franchise's best game yet. Can a video game be too real? That's a concern being raised about "Call of Duty Modern Warfare," the latest salvo in the multibillion-dollar video game series. The new game, out Friday, has one scene set in a London townhouse known to harbor terrorists where British special operations forces are investigating. Inside, they find several people dressed as civilians.

Google plans to launch a video game streaming platform called Stadia, positioning itself to take on traditional video game business. Video games are following data and video into the cloud. Google, which has already announced its Stadia game streaming service will be available in November, will be showing that off at his year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), which begins Saturday in Los Angeles. Microsoft is expected Sunday to reveal more about its own xCloud game platform, also being developed to deliver games via the cloud. Sony is partnering with Microsoft to augment its own cloud gaming strategy.

How Fortnite is making it's money. More than a year after its release, the world is still talking about Fortnite -- and for good reason. The battle royale video game played by more than 200 million people is free, but it's generating a ton of money Time Could "Fortnite" be losing its mojo? The hugely popular online game saw its revenue fall 48 percent in January from the previous month, according to estimates from research firm SuperData. And that happened before a new challenger, "Apex Legends," appeared on the scene, potentially stealing some thunder.

If you've got "Red Dead Redemption 2" we've got tips and advice to help you USA TODAY VALENTINE – Rain soaked a forest path outside this cattle town in New Hanover's Heartlands region as a rider on a horse named Skidaddle pulled out the rifle slung across her back to plug a passing rabbit. The rider – a mud-smeared redhead in a buckskin vest and black cowboy hat – grumbled to a USA TODAY reporter tagging along that Valentine's butcher would give her next to nothing for a pelt in such blasted condition. She and the reporter could have robbed trains or hijacked stagecoaches during the hour they spent together online in "Red Dead Redemption 2," a video game set in a fictional but stunningly realistic version of 1890's America. Instead, the redhead – who is actually Mutahar Anas, a 24-year-old film editor and video game streamer playing from Toronto – harvested animal pelts and fished bluegill from a river, relatively mundane tasks considered the best way to make a decent living in a virtual world with a frustrating economic system. "It literally feels like work," Anas complained after Skidaddle had been loaded with several pelts and an elk carcass.