Netflix is making its video games available to play on televisions for the first time. The company said this move is a key step in its ongoing growth initiative to move beyond films and TV shows. The US-streaming giant’s co-CEO, Greg Peters , recently announced the expansion, marking a significant development for the four-year-old gaming component of the streaming service. This move is part of an effort led by Peters to establish Netflix in the competitive gaming industry. Meanwhile, Alain Tascan , the head of Netflix’s gaming business, stated that the company's approach is long-term, noting that other film and TV companies have attempted and failed to enter the space by taking “a short-term approach.”
Tascan emphasised the strategic value of the move by saying, “To entertain the world, we must include games. A lot of companies have a lot of users, but not that many have all these people on the main entertainment screen at home, the TV.”
How Netflix games will work on TVs
The initial offerings for the TV platform will focus on group games, including titles like Boggle Party, Pictionary: Game Night, Tetris Time Warp, and Lego Party. Subscribers will be able to use their mobile phones as controllers, while the main gameplay is displayed on the TV.
All of the games in this initial offering are free. It's important to note that Lego Party typically retails for about $40. To play, users must have a smart TV or a streaming device like a Roku device.
To turn a phone into a controller, players will need to scan a QR code. Netflix has promised that gameplay will be smooth. The company is committed to games as a substantial part of its future, and has been investing in additional cloud server capacity to accommodate the increased traffic.
In 2024, Tascan joined Netflix from Fortnite maker Epic Games to help revise the company's strategy and address the challenges Hollywood faces with games. Netflix initially thought that offering games for free on mobile phones would attract many users. However, the company is not a destination for video games, and many enthusiasts already play elsewhere.
Since then, Netflix’s management has identified four categories to prioritise: games for kids, games for parties, mainstream titles like Grand Theft Auto and games based on existing Netflix properties such as Stranger Things .
Tascan emphasised the strategic value of the move by saying, “To entertain the world, we must include games. A lot of companies have a lot of users, but not that many have all these people on the main entertainment screen at home, the TV.”
How Netflix games will work on TVs
The initial offerings for the TV platform will focus on group games, including titles like Boggle Party, Pictionary: Game Night, Tetris Time Warp, and Lego Party. Subscribers will be able to use their mobile phones as controllers, while the main gameplay is displayed on the TV.
All of the games in this initial offering are free. It's important to note that Lego Party typically retails for about $40. To play, users must have a smart TV or a streaming device like a Roku device.
To turn a phone into a controller, players will need to scan a QR code. Netflix has promised that gameplay will be smooth. The company is committed to games as a substantial part of its future, and has been investing in additional cloud server capacity to accommodate the increased traffic.
In 2024, Tascan joined Netflix from Fortnite maker Epic Games to help revise the company's strategy and address the challenges Hollywood faces with games. Netflix initially thought that offering games for free on mobile phones would attract many users. However, the company is not a destination for video games, and many enthusiasts already play elsewhere.
Since then, Netflix’s management has identified four categories to prioritise: games for kids, games for parties, mainstream titles like Grand Theft Auto and games based on existing Netflix properties such as Stranger Things .
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