Netflix may have started (or at least is looking to start) testing games for TV, based on the code for its app that developer Steve Moser shared with Bloomberg. Moser allegedly found hidden code referring to games played on television, as well as additional code indicating the possibility of being able to use phones as controllers to play them. A line in the app apparently says, “A game on your TV requires a gamepad to play. Do you want to use this phone as a gamepad?” Moser also before clues found that the service’s next ad-supported plan may not come with offline viewing. It turned out to be on the spot.
The streaming giant launched its gaming experience on android, iPhones and iPads in 2021. It requires mobile users to download games from the App Store or from Google Play due to rules set by Apple and Google. But since the purpose of these games is to increase user engagement and loyalty, they can be launched from the Netflix app and an active subscription is required to access them. On the Netflix app for TV, these games are notably absent.
It remains to be seen how the company intends to implement the games on TVs and whether it will also require users to download the games before they can play them. Mike Verdu, VP of Game Development at Netflix said last yearhowever, that the company was “seriously exploring a cloud gaming offering” and was looking to launch more than just casual games for TV.
For now, users will have to make do with what’s available on mobile. Currently, the Netflix catalog has around 55 titles available, although it is deployment of 40 additional games throughout 2023.
