Netflix: Playing games on TV gets closer with a new console app

Netflix has been serious about gaming for a long time. But so far, efforts have mainly been limited to small games that you can play on your smartphone. However, the new application gives hope that it will soon be possible to play it on TV via live broadcast.

Netflix brings indie games to TV

If you have subscribed to Netflix, you can not only watch a lot of good series or movies. In fact, games are also included in the subscription. To do this, however, you have to download the Netflix app on your smartphone or tablet, and then you can use it to play some games.

It mainly contains ports for cell phone games such as The ultimate in asphalt As well as independent songs such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Of course, Netflix also uses its franchises and shows, for example Stranger Things 3: The Game accompanying title.

But everything can only be accessed via a smartphone. And let’s be honest: Most customers probably use Netflix on their TV – and they probably haven’t heard much about games yet. But a new app could change that and hint at a greater focus on the big screen: The Netflix Game Controller app is now available for iOS can be downloaded.

Control your games via the app

The app doesn’t offer you much yet, because so far it tells you that you will soon be able to use your smartphone as a game console via Netflix. When the time comes, the app doesn’t reveal – nor what TVs are supported and whether games can be streamed or even downloaded. But you shouldn’t expect blockbusters, because the on-screen console is very primitive:

It’s been clear for a long time that Netflix desperately needs to do something about gaming. A year ago, we already reported that only a small part of subscribers use the game offer. With the app, games can now also come out on top on your TV.

It will be exciting to see what happens with all the exclusive games and internal developments. Maybe the games will be bigger in the future. But then we would like an extended application. And the integration of game consoles, for example from the Xbox Series X. The fact that the competition is not asleep and also continues to push cloud gaming – PS5 games are now also quite new – should not go unnoticed by Netflix either.

But one thing’s for sure: If you rely on gaming via Netflix, you don’t at least need a good gaming TV. Although that couldn’t hurt, of course – you can find the best we’ve tested in our leaderboard: