Netflix wants to turn the iPhone into a controller to play games on your TV!

The streaming platform is looking 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 increasingly fierce competition. In recent years, the platform has turned its attention to the video game market by acquiring development studios. Today, Netflix announced its intention to allow users to play their games on their TVs using their iPhones as controllers.

Netflix is ​​turning to video games

Following the first decline in subscriber numbers in 2022, Netflix saw its stock price plummet and investors worry about the company's future. Faced with the rise of competitors such as Amazon Prime, Disney+, and HBO, Netflix decided to diversify by investing in the video game industry, without neglecting its multimedia content. In the first few months that followed, the platform acquired three game development studios.

Using the iPhone as a controller

After acquiring several studios and developing games that didn't achieve the expected success, Netflix decided to continue down this path by announcing the opening of a new studio in Europe in September 2022. Although Netflix games haven't yet found their audience, the company isn't abandoning this strategy. According to a recent report and code discovered by Steve Moser, Netflix will allow users to play its games on TV using an iPhone as a controller. This approach might surprise users, as the platform is traditionally associated with streaming series and films, and using an iPhone as a controller isn't as comfortable as a traditional gamepad.

Netflix's ambitions in video games

Netflix has already launched 55 games and plans to release 40 more in 2023. While 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 offerings by developing and offering games on its platform. These new games are expected to be available only on mobile devices running Android and iOS.

Integrating the feature to play with an iPhone makes perfect sense, as it would allow Netflix to save on the costs associated with adapting these games for TV or launching a dedicated controller. This approach also echoes Netflix's desire to explore cloud game streaming, similar to Google Stadia , which used its own controller, while Netflix would encourage the use of smartphones for this function.

Conclusion

Netflix's announcement that it will use the iPhone as a controller to play its games on TV demonstrates the platform's willingness to adapt to increasingly fierce competition in the streaming industry. By diversifying and investing in the video game market, Netflix aims to strengthen its offering and attract new subscribers.

By allowing users to use their iPhones as controllers to play its games on TV, Netflix is ​​emphasizing the mobility and accessibility of its games. However, this decision could raise questions about user comfort, especially when comparing the gaming experience with a smartphone to that of a traditional controller.

Despite the challenges faced in the video game industry, Netflix remains determined to pursue this strategy, aiming to offer 40 new games in 2023. It remains to be seen whether this approach will bear fruit and allow the platform to maintain its leading position in the streaming industry.

In summary, Netflix continues to innovate and seek new ways to satisfy its users and differentiate itself from its competitors. The integration of the iPhone as a controller for playing games on the TV is an example of this desire to adapt and diversify. Only time will tell if this strategy will be successful and if users will adopt this new feature.