Netflix is expanding its gaming vision with a new way to play video games on your TV, in a massive step for its overall entertainment strategy. Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix shared that various Netflix games like Boggle Party or Pictionary: Game Night and Tetris Time Warp are now available for TV play in Netflix Games category while speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles.
Earlier, Netflix’s gaming was restricted to mobile, but now you can play the games on your TV but still using your smartphone as a controller. The effort is part of a broader goal to increase engagement with users and offer more than just streamed TV programs and movies.
Netflix is ramping up its gaming drive under CEO Greg Peters and Alain Tascan, the head of its gaming wing, according to Bloomberg. After early missteps on free mobile games, Netflix is zooming in on four genres: children’s games, party games, mass-market popular hits like Grand Theft Auto, and television hits based on Netflix originals such as Stranger Things.
Tascan, who most recently worked at Epic Games, is trying to kick-start Netflix’s strategy around games by turning to the company’s legion of subscribers and its grip on living rooms. And the new emphasis will be on social, accessible games that you can play directly on TVs, using smartphones as controllers to make them distinctive and engaging in a world where the gaming market is full of all kinds of content.
How to Play Netflix Games on Your TV
Starting this week, subscribers can enjoy a range of group-friendly games directly through their TVs, no gaming console required.
Step-by-Step to Start Playing:
To begin playing, open up your smart TV’s Netflix app and head to the new “Games” tab, then pick a title from the list you see. Use your smartphone as a controller and select an option, then just run it. They’re made for family fun, low-key friend hangouts, or as a break between episodes of binge-watching sessions.
First Titles Available: The launch lineup contains five group-oriented games:
- Boggle Party
- LEGO Party
- Party Crashers
- Pictionary
- Tetris Time Warp
