By: Nick Gambino
In an effort to broaden their empire, Netflix has started to test streaming video games through mobile devices as well as through TVs and computers.
“We are rolling out a limited beta test to a small number of members in Canada and the UK on select TVs starting today, and on PCs and Macs through Netflix.com on supported browsers in the next few weeks,” the VP of Games at Netflix, Mike Verdu, said in a blog post dated 14 Aug 2023.
For now there are only two video games available for beta testers to play. First up is Night School Studio’s Oxenfree, an adventure thriller where you accidentally open a dimensional rift and have to contend with the supernatural powers unleashed.
Then there’s Molehew’s Mining Adventure, a new gem-mining game that we know very little about. I’m guessing it’s also made by Night School Studio which is owned by Netflix.
Now, we kind of predicted that there was going to be some sort of expansion of video game streaming after Netflix spent the last couple years offering only mobile games to users. This expansion to other devices was hinted at when a new Netflix controller app hit the App Store last week.
This “controller” allows you to play games on your TV without the need to purchase an entire new physical controller. The app is available for iOS users. For those rocking an Android phone, you can access the controller function directly through your Netflix app. Unfortunately, Apple TV users won’t have access to Netflix game streaming, but hopefully that will be added in the future as they plan to continue to expand cloud gaming to more devices.
Of course those who wish to stream Netflix video games through their PC or Mac will just use their keyboard and mouse like they would in Steam.
Now, if Netflix and the rest of the AMPTP would pay writers and actors a fair and living wage, I would have no problem supporting their continued and unfettered quest for global dominance.
