Netflix Developing Feature to Bring Games to Smart TVs

Netflix's goal is to release new games every month, offering a variety of genres such as indie darlings, award-winning hits, RPGs, narrative adventures, and puzzle games..

According to reports from Bloomberg and MacRumors’ Steve Moser, Netflix is currently working on a feature that would allow users to play its games on smart TVs and use their iPhone as a controller. This move expands Netflix's gaming service beyond smartphones and tablets, offering more ways for subscribers to enjoy the service. For iPhone owners, the feature eliminates the need to purchase a dedicated controller, increasing the likelihood that more people will try out the games.

Specific code found within Netflix’s iOS app confirms the development of this feature, with a prompt appearing that reads “A game on your TV needs a controller to play. Do you want to use this phone as a game controller?” There is no mention of availability for Android users in either report, but it is likely to come at some point.

Netflix launched its gaming service in 2021, but its uptake among subscribers has reportedly been slow. According to data from an app analytics firm, Netflix games have been downloaded just over 23 million times and played by 1.7 million subscribers daily, equaling approximately 1% of its global subscriber base.

However, Netflix is determined to give its subscribers more value in the face of growing competition from rival streaming services. Last week, the company announced that it plans to release 40 more gaming titles by the end of this year, on top of the 70 games it is currently developing with various partners and the 16 more being prepared by its in-house game studios.

Netflix's goal is to release new games every month, offering a variety of genres such as indie darlings, award-winning hits, RPGs, narrative adventures, and puzzle games. Despite its slow start, the addition of more games to its platform and the ability to play games on TVs will likely encourage more subscribers to try out Netflix's gaming service when they’re not watching movies or TV shows.

It is not yet clear when the feature will be available to Netflix's 230 million subscribers worldwide. However, this feature aligns with Netflix's goal to make games “playable on every Netflix device that you have.”

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