Streaming giant Netflix has announced its latest move in the realm of interactive entertainment, revealing plans to test game streaming on a wider range of devices. This expansion comes as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to diversify its content offerings and tap into the thriving gaming industry. Starting today, a select number of Netflix subscribers in Canada and the U.K. will have the opportunity to test out game streaming on their television sets, in addition to the existing mobile platform.
As part of the initial testing phase, Netflix will offer two games to participants: “Oxenfree,” developed by Night School Studio, and “Molehew’s Mining Adventure,” a gem-mining arcade game. These selections aim to provide a diverse gaming experience to the participants.
The game streaming feature will be rolled out across various devices, including TVs, computers, and mobile phones. Netflix’s current lineup of streaming partners for TV-based gaming includes Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, and Samsung Smart TVs. Notably absent from this list is Apple TV, which maintains its own gaming strategy through its App Store.
The streaming service’s new game-streaming controller app, designed to make gaming more accessible, is set to play a crucial role in the expanded testing. It functions by scanning a QR code displayed on the Netflix mobile app, which then links with the TV, enabling users to seamlessly transition between devices for an immersive gaming experience.
Mike Verdu, Netflix’s Vice President of Games, expressed the company’s excitement about this venture in a blog post. He stated, “By making games available on more devices, we hope to make games even easier to play for our members around the world.” Verdu emphasized that while Netflix’s gaming journey is still in its early stages, the company is committed to bringing joy to its members through innovative interactive experiences.
This expansion aligns with Netflix’s previous announcements about its intentions to explore cloud gaming and establish its own gaming studio in Southern California, led by Chacko Sonny, the former executive producer of “Overwatch” at Blizzard Entertainment. Netflix envisions its gaming offerings as a distinct model, separate from traditional gaming platforms like PlayStation and Xbox.
The streaming giant has an ambitious lineup for its gaming division this year, with a total of 40 games scheduled for launch. Additionally, Netflix has 16 games in development in its in-house studios, with an impressive 70 more titles in collaboration with external partners. Since its initial foray into gaming in November 2021, Netflix has already released 70 mobile games, indicating the company’s commitment to expanding its reach in the gaming industry.
As the beta testing progresses, Netflix anticipates gathering valuable feedback from users, which will be used to refine the game-streaming technology and enhance the overall user experience. With the launch of game streaming on TVs and computers, Netflix is taking another step towards its vision of becoming a leading player in the interactive entertainment landscape.
