Netflix is reportedly testing a new feature that will allow users to play games on TVs using their smartphones as video game controllers.
An app developer Steve Moser who shared his findings with Bloomberg said that he found some hidden code within Netflix’s iOS mobile app that contains references for playing games on TV.
“A game on your TV needs a controller to play. Do you want to use this phone as a game controller?,” reads one line of the code allegedly suggesting that a user’s smartphone would be used as a video-game controller for games hosted on Netflix’s video gaming platform.
Last week, Leanne Loombe, Netflix’s VP of external games admitted that it wants to bring games to more devices. “As you can imagine, we do want Netflix games to be playable on every Netflix device that you have,” she added.
Similarly, in October last year, Mike Verdu, VP of games, announced that Netflix was “seriously exploring” a cloud gaming service, and work on the project is “underway.”
While it is unclear how the new feature would work nor Netflix has officially confirmed about the same, it definitely hints at the company’s plans to expand beyond smartphones and tablets to find a grip in the gaming business and increase its subscriber base.
According to the analytics company Apptopia’s report from last year, less than 1% of Netflix subscribers are engaging with the company’s games on a daily basis. The upcoming feature that allows users to play Netflix games on TV is certainly likely to boost this percentage.
About Netflix Games
Netflix released its mobile video gaming platform, Netflix Games, for Android and iOS users all over the world with 5 games on launch in November 2021.
The games launched were Stranger Things: 1984 (BonusXP), Stranger Things 3: The Game (BonusXP), Shooting Hoops (Frosty Pop), Card Blast (Amuzo & Rogue Games), and Teeter Up (Frosty Pop).
Further, in March 2022, Netflix acquired Boss Fight Entertainment, a mobile games developer, its third game studio acquisition after Night School Studio and Next Games.
Currently, Netflix users with membership have unlimited access to more than 50 exclusive mobile games. These games have no ads, no extra fees, or no in-app purchases and can be downloaded on Android and iOS devices.
Recently, the video streaming giant announced that it was planning to release 40 new game titles for Android and iOS users this year, which will join the already existing catalog of 55 games. In addition, there are 70 games in development.
The company is working with partners such as Ubisoft and Super Evil Megacorp, which are going to help Netflix bring new gaming titles to its platform.
