Popular video streaming giant Netflix announced on Friday that it has started limited beta testing of its cloud gaming service on TVs and computers for a ‘small number’ of customers in Canada and the UK.
Starting Friday, beta testing is only open to a limited number of gamers on select TVs. However, beta testing will expand to PC and Mac on supported browsers through Netflix.com with keyboard and mouse control support over the next few weeks.
For those unaware, in November 2021, Netflix launched its video game subscription service, Netflix Games, globally for mobile devices (Android and iOS).
This video game service is included with a Netflix subscription, and the games are available in the Games tab of the Netflix app for Android and iOS. As of August 2023, there are more than 70 mobile games available on the streaming platform’s video game service.
“Today, we’re taking the first step toward making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix — TV, computer, and mobile,” Mike Verdu, Netflix’s vice president of games, wrote in a blog post Friday. ”
As part of the initial beta testing, only two games will be available to beta testers, which are Oxenfree from Night School Studios, a Netflix game studio, and Moluse Mining Adventure, a gem-mining arcade game.
Testers will be able to use their smartphone as a controller while streaming the game to their Smart TV. To use the gaming service on a TV, iOS users will need to download the standalone ‘Netflix Game Controller’ app, while Android users can use the virtual controller built into their version of the Netflix app. Additionally, members on PC and Mac can play on Netflix.com with keyboard and mouse.
The limited beta test will be conducted on select smart TVs and streaming TV devices that support Netflix game streaming, including Amazon Fire TV streaming media player, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TVs, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart Are. TV, and Walmart ONN.
Netflix says additional smart TVs and devices will be added on an ongoing basis.
“By making the games available on more devices, we hope to make the game accessible to our members around the world. Although we are still in the early stages of our gaming journey, we are excited to bring joy to members with games. We look forward to hearing feedback from our beta testers and sharing more as we move forward on the path forward,” Verdu concluded in the blog post.
