Netflix is extending the reach of its gaming platform from smartphones to PCs and televisions. The entertainment company revealed a beta test that will let people play games on Windows PCs, Macs, and TVs in a blog post on Monday. The test, which is aimed at a small number of users in Canada and the UK, is Netflix’s first move toward making games accessible on large devices.
There will be two games available for beta testers during this initial deployment. One is a supernatural thriller game from Netflix Game Studio Night School Studio called Oxenfree. The other is a Molehew’s digging Adventure arcade game that involves digging for gems.
Expanding Netflix Gaming
Games on TV will operate on a limited number of devices, according to the post, including those made by partners including Walmart ONN, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV streaming media players, and Chromecast with Google TV. Ongoing additions of new devices will be made. To make its dream of cloud gaming more accessible, Netflix says it will make games available on more platforms. Up until this point, only iPhones and Android smartphones could play Netflix games.
Users must, however, download the Netflix Game Controller apps from the Google Play Store or the Apple app Store to play Netflix games on TV. The app has a gamepad-like interface and is free to download. The app is now accessible to iPhone users, and according to its official description, users must make sure their device is running iOS 15 or later. Additionally, it says that games will soon start to be added Netflix.
In 2021, when many other internet behemoths, like Google and Amazon, began to investigate the market, Netflix entered the cloud gaming sector. The company has made it plain that anyone can access its games with a subscription. The simplicity of play and lack of commercials are two advantages of Netflix games. The dominant streaming platform has stepped up its marketing efforts to push more cloud games. Laya’s Horizon, World of Goo Remastered, and Spooky Oxenfree II: Lost Signals are just a few of the recent releases.
According to Netflix, this journey for the company is still in its “very early” stages. In March, The Verge reported that Netflix was moving slowly in the aftermath of Google Stadia’s withdrawal, citing Leanne Loombe, VP of External Games. Netflix is careful about TV limitations as well. TVs have tiny processors and memory compared to many smartphones, which is enough to run many games smoothly. Because of this, Netflix is likely to launch games on a few different TV models.
