Gaming & Entertainment

Imagine Playing Games on Netflix, and Controlling It with Your Smartphone

Netflix users will soon be able to stream games and use their phones as a controller.

In some of my past chats, I’ve chatted about all sorts of stuff concerning streaming services. I’ll drop the links for those at the bottom of this post.

But for now, let’s dive into Netflix Games and how you can boss those games around using your trusty smartphone. Cool, right?

What is Netflix Games?

Netflix has been toying with the idea of gaming for a while now. The company isn’t satisfied with just creating a bunch of mobile games. Nope, it’s got grander aspirations — think cloud-based gaming services à la Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.

In other words, Netflix wants to make gaming as accessible and seamless as binge-watching your favorite shows on your PC or TV.

Now, hold on a sec, don’t get your hopes up for a slew of blockbuster shooters or sprawling RPGs flooding your screens. Mike Verdu, the VP of games at Netflix, spilled the beans at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference. He laid out their game plan: start small, keep it real, and then expand.

It’s the same playbook they followed for mobile games, and it worked like a charm. And guess what? They’re already hard at work — 55 new mobile games are in the oven, baking away, and they’re even setting up shop with a shiny new games studio in California.

But hey, don’t go thinking Netflix is out to steal your Xbox Series X’s thunder or replace your PS5’s pride of place. Verdu made it crystal clear that they’re not here to play console Vanquisher.

Nah, their angle is different. “We’re not trying to swap your console subscription,” Verdu emphasized. This isn’t a one-for-one swap; it’s more like an extra layer of awesome. Netflix envisions this as a sweet bonus, a cherry on top of your streaming sundae.

So, where does casual gaming fit into all this? Just recently, BMW announced that it’s teaming up with AirConsole to bring games to its dashboards, starting in the year 2023.

And that’s not some small beans we’re talking about. The gaming industry is no joke — experts predict it’ll be worth an eye-watering $326 billion by 2026. That’s the kind of cash that makes even the big dogs sit up and take notice.

So, next time you’re glued to your TV, sucked into the latest Netflix hit, remember that there’s a gaming storm brewing behind the scenes. Netflix isn’t just a streaming behemoth anymore; it’s looking to conquer the gaming realm too.

Using your phone as a controller?

Get ready for some exciting updates in the world of Netflix gaming! Brace yourself because the new Netflix Game Controller app has just hit the scene on the iPhone and iPad app store. While you can’t connect to a service just yet, it’s pretty obvious that it’s about to drop any moment now.

So, what’s the deal with this Game Controller app, you ask? Well, it’s a nifty little tool that syncs up with your TV and lets you dive into gaming on Netflix using your trusty smartphone or mobile device.

Imagine this: a full-screen app, complete with a thumbstick for your left thumb and those classic four buttons on the right. And they’re laid out in a cool quarter-moon shape, with a big, noticeable A button stealing the show, and smaller B, X, and Y buttons adding to the mix.

Hold on, though. This isn’t Netflix’s first rodeo when it comes to gaming on mobile gadgets. You can already grab and enjoy oodles of games from Netflix on your iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and Android phones or tablets, all within the main Netflix app.

But here’s the kicker — this new app is signaling the dawn of a whole new era, hinting at the long-anticipated Netflix cloud gaming service.

And believe me, this isn’t some run-of-the-mill collection of casual games for your TV screen. Nope, Netflix is playing in the big leagues now. Check this out: the job ads they posted were all about crafting top-tier games for their very own Netflix cloud games universe.

That makes sense, right? I mean, if there’s one thing Netflix has truly mastered, it’s dishing out content from the mystical realm known as the cloud.

Now, here’s the juicy bit. The question on everyone’s lips — will Netflix drop some slick dedicated controllers à la Google Stadia? Or are they gonna keep things old-school with the good ol’ phone app control? Tough call, but one thing’s clear as day: the endgame here is all about ramping up the excitement and setting their platform miles apart from other streaming giants.

Let’s take a quick peek at the competition: while Apple and Amazon Prime do have their own gaming services, they’re keeping ’em totally separate from their streaming TV extravaganza.

Final Words

Bottom line? The Netflix gaming realm is gearing up for a major shakeup, and we’re in for a wild ride.

So, stay tuned, keep your devices charged, and get ready to level up your Netflix experience like never before!

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I will continue to share my thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics in the world of entertainment and technology.

With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

Here is everything I wrote last month:

Here are a few of my previous stories relating to streaming services I believe you will enjoy:

References

Netflix might let you use an iPhone to control games on your TV.

Netflix gaming is coming to your TV — and your iPhone is the controller.

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About Me

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