- Kyle Chua
Netflix Could Be Bringing Games To TV
You might soon be able to play Netflix games on your TV sets.
The streaming giant has started testing the idea of bringing games to TV if some hidden code within its app is to be believed. Developer Steve Moser told Bloomberg that the code references games being playable on every device that can run the app, with smartphones possibly serving as controllers. A line from the app reads: "A game on your TV needs a controller to play. Do you want to use this phone as a game controller?"
Right now, Netflix games are exclusive to mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Moser previously reported that Netflix's ad-supported plan doesn't include the benefit of offline viewing, which suggests he at least has some credibility when it comes to uncovering yet-to-be-announced information.
A lot of the specifics of how Netflix plans to bring games to TV are yet unclear. For instance, do users have to download the games they want to play or can they stream it the same way they would a movie or show? Netflix Vice President of Games Mike Verdu said last year the company is "seriously exploring" cloud gaming, perhaps rivalling services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now. He also said the company wants to expand its library of games beyond casual games.
Netflix added games to its service in 2021, launching on Android, iPhones and iPads. The games on the app need to be downloaded and installed on your device before they can be played. But you won't be downloading them via the Netflix app. Instead, you'll be directed to the App Store or the Play Store, depending on your device. Once the games are installed though, you can launch them from within the Netflix app. You'll, of course, also need to have an active Netflix subscription to play the games.
As of writing, Netflix has over 55 games in its growing library, with 40 more games expected to be added throughout 2023.
Netflix has started testing the idea of bringing games to TV if some hidden code within its app is to be believed.
Developer Steve Moser uncovered the code, which references games being playable on every device that can run the app, with smartphones possibly serving as controllers.
Currently, Netflix games are exclusive to mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.