## Netflix Circumvented Xbox Exclusivity with a Disc-Based Solution for PlayStation and Nintendo
In the mid-2000s, Netflix saw a meaningful opportunity to expand into the gaming console market.Following a deal with Microsoft in 2005, Netflix launched its app as a downloadable application exclusively on the Xbox 360. This agreement included a clause preventing the app’s availability on competing platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo consoles.
However, Netflix wasn’t willing to limit its reach. The company devised a workaround, offering access to its streaming service via official discs for PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii owners. this allowed users to stream content without a downloadable app, effectively bypassing the exclusivity agreement with Microsoft.
While PS3 and Wii users required an active Netflix subscription,the disc-based method circumvented the contractual limitations.This solution wasn’t limited to those consoles; in 2009, Netflix extended the disc-based access to the PlayStation 2, initially launching in Brazil.
Brazil was targeted due to the continued popularity of the PS2 even after the release of the PS3, giving Netflix access to a ample user base. The disc allowed Brazilian gamers to become the first in the world to access the Netflix catalog on the best-selling console of all time. Files from the disc were quickly shared online, spreading instructions for accessing the service on PS2 globally.
Ultimately, the PS2 Netflix service was short-lived. In 2011, Netflix persistent that too few subscribers were utilizing the platform, making it economically unsustainable to maintain the servers.This marked the end of a unique, albeit brief, chapter in Netflix’s history.Source: 3DGames