The streaming platform seeks to expand its offering
Streaming giant Netflix, well known for its catalog of series and films, is exploring new opportunities to maintain its leading position in the face of increasing competition. In recent years, the platform has become interested in the video game market by acquiring development studios. Today, Netflix announced that it wants to allow its users to play their games on TV using their iPhone as a controller.
Netflix turns to video games
Following the first drop in subscribers in 2022, Netflix saw its shares fall and its investors worry about the company's future. Faced with the rise of competitors such as Amazon Prime, Disney+ or HBO, Netflix made the decision to diversify by investing in the video game industry, without neglecting its multimedia content. In the first months that followed, the platform acquired three game development studios.
Use iPhone as a controller
After purchasing several studios and developing games that did not meet with the expected success, Netflix decided to continue on this path by announcing the opening of a new studio in Europe in September 2022. Although Netflix games do not have not yet found their audience, the company is not abandoning this strategy. According to a recent report and code discovered by Steve Moser, Netflix would allow its games to be played on the TV using an iPhone as a controller. This approach might surprise users, because the platform is traditionally associated with streaming series and films, and using an iPhone as a controller is not as comfortable as a traditional controller.
Netflix's ambitions in video games
Netflix has already launched 55 games and plans to offer 40 more in 2023. Although the platform has built a solid reputation thanks to its catalog of films and series, as well as the production of exclusive original content, it is looking to expand its offering by developing and offering games on its platform. These new games should only be available on mobile devices running Android and iOS.
The integration of the functionality allowing you to play with an iPhone then makes sense, as this would allow Netflix to save the costs associated with adapting these games for TV or launching a dedicated controller. This approach also recalls Netflix's desire to explore cloud game streaming, like Google Stadia , which used its own controller, while Netflix would encourage the use of smartphones for this function.
Conclusion
Netflix's announcement to use the iPhone as a controller to play its games on TV demonstrates the platform's desire to adapt in the face of increasingly fierce competition in the streaming industry. By diversifying and investing in the video game market, Netflix is seeking to strengthen its offering and attract new subscribers.
By choosing to allow users to use their iPhone as a controller to play its games on TV, Netflix is emphasizing the mobility and accessibility of its games. However, this decision could raise questions about comfort of use, especially if we compare the gaming experience with a smartphone to that of a traditional controller.
Despite the challenges encountered in the video game field, Netflix remains determined to pursue this strategy, with the objective of offering 40 new games in 2023. It remains to be seen whether this approach will bear fruit and allow the platform to maintain its position. leader in the streaming industry.
In summary, Netflix continues to innovate and look for new ways to satisfy its users and stand out from its competitors. The integration of the iPhone as a controller for playing on TV is an example of this desire for adaptation and diversification. Only time will tell if this strategy will be successful and if users will adopt this new feature.
