Netflix has kicked off a limited beta test of cloud-streamed games for a small number of subscribers in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Select members can play games streamed to compatible smart TVs, Netflix-enabled TVs and web browsers on Mac and Windows PCs via Netflix.com.
A few days ago, the official Netflix Game Controller app launched, turning an iPhone into a motion controller for playing cloud-streamed games.
Netflix is testing cloud-streamed games
The announcement on the Netflix blog says the limited beta is meant to test the company’s streaming technology.” This initial test will include Oxenfree from Night School Studio and Mining Adventure (a gem-mining arcade game) from Molehew.
Those included in the test can download the Netflix Game Controller to play games on their Netflix-enabled TV set using their iPhone as a controller. If playing in a browser, use your keyboard and mouse instead.
View Netflix Game Controller on the App Store
Supported TVs and set-top boxes include Amazon’s Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and Walmart ONN. More devices could run Netflix games in the future as the company promises to expand device support “on an ongoing basis.”
Netflix’s growing gaming ambitions
Netflix has dipped its toes into gaming by launching mobile games in November 2021. The company has worked with several established developers and publishers to license games like Monument Valley as a free perk to subscribers.
Netflix games are downloaded from their respective app stores on iOS and Android, but the titles are currently unavailable on other devices.
That’s why a cloud-gaming effort is important.
With cloud-based gaming, your device only needs to send your input to the cloud. There, the game runs on powerful GPUs. Your device receives a streamed video of gameplay action. Provided your connection is fast enough and servers are close to your country, cloud gaming can feel almost like running a game locally.
With cloud-based gaming, Netflix can bring games to web browsers, Netflix-enabled TVs and smart platforms without the graphics capabilities required to run mobile games natively. At publication time, there were about 70 games on Netflix.