Netflix is ​​testing video games on TV so they can be controlled via smartphone

Netflix can test games on a TV so they can be controlled via a smartphone. An additional opportunity to strengthen your presence in the video game market.

Netflix may have started or is preparing to test games for TVs. At least that’s what we learn from his app’s code, according to findings shared by developer Steve Moser with Bloomberg. Steve Moser discovered a hidden code related to games that could be played on a TV, while other code snippets indicate that a smartphone could be used to play them. One line in particular explains: “The game on your TV needs a controller. Do you want to use this smartphone as a controller?”Steve Moser also previously discovered that the ad-funded free offering of the service would be stripped of its offline mode.

Netflix may be testing games on TV so they can be controlled via smartphone

The streaming giant launched its gaming experience on Android, iPhone and iPad in 2021. Mobile users are required to download games from the App Store or Google Play due to rules set by Apple and Google, but to the extent that these games are about growing the platform’s user base, they can be played directly from the Netflix app and you need an active subscription to enjoy them. However, there are no games available on the Netflix app for TVs.

An additional opportunity to strengthen your presence in the video game market

The future will show how the company intends to bring this video game experience to TVs and whether users will still have to download games before they can enjoy them. VP of Game Development Mike Verdu said last year that the company is “taking the idea of ​​offering cloud gaming very seriously”and aims to bring more than just casual games to TVs.

For now, users will have to make do with what’s available on mobile devices. At the time of this writing, the Netflix catalog has about 55 titles, but it is expected that about 40 new games will be added in 2023.