Netflix is currently in the process of experimenting with two of its streaming video games, exclusively for chosen users residing in Canada and the United Kingdom. These games are compatible with specific television models and accessible on Windows PCs, macOS computers, and mobile devices. Notably, gaming consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox Series X or Sony’s PlayStation 5 are not currently included in the list of supported devices.
This development was disclosed in a recent blog post by Netflix, following the discreet launch of the “Netflix Game Controller” app for iOS just last week.
Pioneering a New Era: Streaming Games and Beyond
Mike Verdu, the Vice President of Games at Netflix, conveyed in a post on Monday that despite being in the early stages of their gaming venture, the company will provide beta testers with access to two initial games. One of these games is “Oxenfree,” a captivating narrative-driven adventure crafted by Night School Studio, a studio acquired by Netflix in 2021. The second offering is “Molehew’s Mining Adventure,” an arcade game centred around gem mining.
Verdu also stated that the limited beta is designed to assess their “game streaming technology and controller, to enhance the member experience as we progress.” The endeavour is intended to examine the viability of streaming games and the performance of the associated controller.
Netflix took its initial steps into the realm of gaming by adding downloadable games to its catalogue back in 2021. However, this recent initiative signifies a significant leap forward, as it enables the streaming of more substantial and intricate games to a potentially broader array of compatible devices. Since these games operate on remote servers and are subsequently streamed to users’ screens, a stable internet connection becomes the sole requirement for seamless gameplay.
Gaming on television will function on specifically chosen devices from initial collaborators, including:
- Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players
- Chromecast with Google TV
- LG televisions, Nvidia Shield TV
- Roku devices and televisions
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Walmart ONN.
Additionally, there are plans to continuously expand the supported devices list in the future.
