Netflix is making further strides in the gaming industry with the recent release of a dedicated game controller app for iOS devices. The app, known as the “Netflix Game Controller,” allows users to transform their iPhones or iPads into gamepads that can be paired with their TVs, enabling them to play games available through Netflix’s service on the big screen.
Although the app is now available for download, specific details regarding supported games and the pairing process are still scarce. In addition, it is unclear whether an Android app will be developed in the future. The app’s description only hints that gamepad functionality will be made available on Netflix in the near future.
Netflix’s expansion into gaming has been evident with its growing presence as an independent game publisher. Within the past two years, the company’s gaming division has either published or hosted nearly 70 titles, some of which can be accessed through the regular Netflix streaming app, while others are playable on mobile devices and gaming consoles. These games have received critical acclaim, including the highly-regarded Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, which resulted in the establishment of Night School, Netflix’s first in-house gaming studio.
The Netflix platform will be featuring several notable titles in the upcoming months, including indie favorites like Storytellers, Paper Trail, and the Monument Valley series. Moreover, fans can anticipate the arrival of an Assassin’s Creed game as well as a mobile port of LEGO: Legacy Heroes Unboxed. It can be reasonably assumed that the recently-launched controller app will support gameplay for these exciting titles. Engadget has reached out to Netflix for information regarding compatibility and the potential release of an Android version. However, a spokesperson for the company has stated that no comments can be made at this time.
