Netflix Expands Gaming Beyond Mobile to TVs and Computers
Netflix is officially expanding its gaming footprint, moving beyond mobile devices to begin testing titles on televisions and computers. The streaming giant announced that a limited group of subscribers in Canada and the U.K. can now access games directly through their TV sets, with support for PCs and Macs via web browsers rolling out in the coming weeks.
How the New Gaming Experience Works
The pilot program introduces two titles: the critically acclaimed “Oxenfree,” developed by Night School Studio (the first developer acquired by Netflix in 2021), and “Molehew’s Mining Adventure,” an arcade-style gem-mining game.
For TV gameplay, Netflix is leveraging smartphones as controllers. Users connect by scanning a QR code displayed on their television screen. This setup complements the recent launch of a dedicated iPhone controller app, which hinted at this broader cross-device strategy.
On computers, the interface shifts to a traditional control scheme, utilizing a keyboard and mouse for PC and Mac users via supported web browsers.
Supported Hardware and Future Outlook
At the onset, the TV-based streaming is compatible with a specific range of devices:
- Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players
- Chromecast with Google TV
- LG TVs
- Nvidia Shield TV
- Roku devices and TVs
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Walmart ONN
Notably, Apple TV is absent from the initial list, as the platform maintains its own gaming ecosystem through the App Store. Netflix indicated that more devices will be added over time, though specific hardware partners remain undisclosed.
Strategic Goals
Mike Verdu, Netflix’s VP of Games, stated that the company is currently focused on testing its streaming technology and refining the user experience. “By making games available on more devices, we hope to make games even easier to play for our members around the world,” Verdu wrote in a company blog post. He added that while the initiative is in its early stages, the company is eager to gather feedback from beta testers.
Despite this expansion, Netflix maintains that its gaming division is not intended to compete directly with console giants like PlayStation or Xbox. Instead, the company views gaming as a natural, accessible extension of its existing entertainment service. Since launching its gaming vertical in November 2021, Netflix has released 70 mobile titles, with 40 more planned for this year, including 16 in-house projects and 70 additional titles currently in development with partners.