Netflix has been in the gaming scene for a while now with the games available on the streaming service's mobile app. Now, the company is said to be working on bringing those games to TVs using iPhones as controllers.
Netflix Games on TV
The streaming giant is working on a feature that will allow its users to play games on smart TVs, all while using an iPhone as a controller. This could be the company's effort to entice more Netflix users to play its games.
It is also convenient for those who already own iPhones seeing as they won't have to purchase a controller specifically for Netflix's gaming mode. As mentioned in Digital Trends, this will likely increase the chances of people trying it out for themselves.
Reports say the iOS Netflix app would display a prompt saying that the TV needs a controller to play, followed by asking the user if they want to use the iPhone as a game controller. Sadly, there is no support for Android just yet, but it's likely that Netflix will develop it soon after.
The streaming service may also use the gaming angle to gain an edge in the current competitive streaming service industry. In fact, the company is investing more in its gaming project with plans to release 40 more game titles before 2023 ends.
There have already been 55 games released, with 70 more in development with the company's partners. Subscribers might see indie darlings, award-winning hits, RPGs, narrative adventures, puzzle games, and more, according to Leanne Loombe, Vice President of External Games.
Netflix tends to create games that are related to the shows found within the service. For instance, one of the most-played games they have titled Too Hot to Handle: Love is a Game is based on its dating show, "Too Hot to Handle."
Netflix Looking Into AAA Games
While Netflix is developing its games' compatibility with smart TVs with iPhones as controllers, they have also been busy with other game forms, particularly AAA games for PC. A job listing was posted for a director and a lead engineer for the company's games studio.
According to the listing on Netflix's website, the company is building a new third-person action RPG, wherein the lead engineer will work closely with a creative director and assemble a game team to create a new game vision.
Netflix is looking for a candidate that has experience with game prototyping, gameplay, and design sensibilities. The engineer role will be a part of a small, "scrappy" team that will create memorable game moments for its players.
The games might actually turn out to be good, given that former Overwatch director Chacko Sonny will be leading Netflix's game studio in Los Angeles, as mentioned in Engadget. Sonny has experience with gaming studios since he was a former employee at Blizzard back in 2021.
The company has also acquired a gaming studio based in Helsinki, Finland, along with other developers such as Oxenfree and Night School Studio. This could bolster Netflix's ambition to enter the gaming industry of AAA games.
