Game Consoles Created Streaming, Then It Left Them Behind

For many, the game console was the original streaming hub, transforming the living room television into a portal for on-demand entertainment. This pioneering role is now fading into history, as recent announcements from major streaming services highlight a significant shift away from older gaming hardware. Netflix has begun notifying PlayStation 3 owners that its app will cease functioning on that platform after March 2nd. In a parallel move, Hulu is discontinuing its application for the original model of the Nintendo Switch. These decisions signal the end of an era where consoles were central to the streaming experience, ultimately overtaken by the widespread adoption of integrated smart TVs and dedicated streaming devices.

The Netflix app on the PS3 holds a special place in streaming history. Launched in late 2009, it initially arrived not as a digital download but on physical discs mailed to subscribers. Once it became available through the PlayStation Store, its popularity skyrocketed. By 2012, the PlayStation 3 was Netflix’s most-watched television-connected device, occasionally even surpassing personal computers in total viewing hours. Former CEO Reed Hastings noted at the time that the PS3 had become the company’s number one platform overall.

Beyond just driving viewership, the PS3 became a critical technological testbed for Netflix. Unlike apps on other platforms, which required full updates for every change, the PS3 app was built on HTML5. This architecture allowed Netflix engineers to update individual features and conduct live A/B testing with specific user segments seamlessly. This turned the console into an invaluable development platform, enabling Netflix to refine and debut advanced capabilities long before they reached other devices. Features like casting support appeared on the PS3 nearly a full year before Google’s Chromecast hit the market.

The influence of gaming consoles on streaming extends beyond Netflix. In 2002, the homebrew Xbox Media Player project allowed users to play video files on the original Xbox. This software evolved into the Xbox Media Center (XBMC), which later became the foundation for the cross-platform Kodi media player. This lineage also directly contributed to the creation of Plex, which began as a media center solution and has since expanded into a full-fledged ad-supported streaming service.

As the market matured, consumer habits changed dramatically. Data from Parks Associates illustrates a stark decline. In early 2018, 21 percent of U.S. households primarily used a game console for streaming. By the end of 2025, that figure had plummeted to just 7 percent. Conversely, the use of smart TVs as the primary streaming device jumped from 39 percent to 61 percent in the same period, while dedicated streaming dongle usage remained steady.

This seismic shift in user behavior means streaming services have far less incentive to maintain support for aging console hardware. Furthermore, as these services evolve to offer new features like cloud gaming and interactive live streams, supporting legacy devices becomes increasingly impractical from a technical and resource standpoint. Netflix’s recent decision to disable casting support across most devices is just one example of this ongoing prioritization, leaving the consoles that helped build the streaming world quietly behind.

(Source: The Verge)