Netflix's TV Gaming Plan Allows iPhone to Be Used as Controller

Netflix is working to extend its nascent video game platform to TVs and part of the plan involves allowing subscribers to use their iPhone as a controller, reports Bloomberg.

netflix games launch
According to the report, app developer Steve Moser shared code he discovered hidden within Netflix's iOS mobile app that contains references to games played on TVs, including one line which reads "A game on your TV needs a controller to play. Do you want to use this phone as a game controller?"

Netflix launched its gaming platform on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices in November 2021. Games are released as individual apps on the iOS App Store, while the full catalog of games is maintained in the Netflix app. Many of the titles are tie-ins to popular TV shows, such as "Stranger Things 3: The Game."

Similar to the way Apple Arcade operates, there are no ads, additional fees or in-app purchases included in the games, with the idea being that customers remain engaged with the streaming service while they are waiting for new installments of TV shows and series hosted by the platform.

As Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes, expanding gaming to TVs would be a major extension of the service, as Netflix is now built into many smart TVs and is available on several platforms, including Apple TV.

Ultimately, Netflix plans to launch a cloud gaming service that could let users stream games without installing them locally. Such a plan would enable the company to offer many more titles than it does currently, potentially providing competition to existing cloud gaming services offered by the likes of Microsoft, and may even rival non-cloud-based platforms such as Apple Arcade.

Tag: Netflix

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Air Colors Thumb 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Come in These 9 Colors

Friday July 11, 2025 12:30 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will be available in a total of nine color options, according to new information coming out of Asia. The iPhone 17 Air's expected color options. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean blog Naver, accessory manufacturers are now producing camera protector rings for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air in colors to match their...

Top Rated Comments

Apple blogger Avatar
30 months ago
So does this count as using 2 devices or one?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robbietop Avatar
30 months ago
When you finally tired of Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock, you can come in and play Angry Birds using your…..phone…….
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pacorob Avatar
30 months ago

Even Apple knows the iPhone is a bad controller. That's why they use Xbox, PS, and Switch controllers, among others.

This just proves once again that Netflix has bad leadership making bad decisions and they will continue to decline.

That's really not a reasonable point. Especially when so many games on the iPhone are successful. I think it would be bad if they tried to make it control games like Mario or something but the idea is solid
Currently there are 56 games ('https://appraven.net/collection.php?listId=618abda8d8a2486de0baeea5') Netflix games out of which 8 games ('https://appraven.net/collection.php?listId=63e9ea53904afd2a981d302a') have actual controller* support:
- Highwater
- Asphalt Xtreme
- Dust & Neon
- Shatter Remastered
- TMNT: Shredder's Revenge
- Relic Hunters: Rebels
- NETFLIX Moonlighter
- Stranger Things 3 The Game

* Backbone One (works great) and I also tried it with my Xbox controllers and should also work with quite some Playstation controllers.

Netflix also recently announced ('https://about.netflix.com/en/news/continuing-our-games-journey') to have 90 games in 2023.

I really like this game option in addition to our Netflix subscription to play games without ads, in-app purchases and I also play some games with my kids as well. There are a few good premium games in there and also quite some casual games (Mahjong Solitaire Netflix, Puzzle Gods, Wild Things Animal Adventures, Country Friends - a bit like Farm Frenzy).

I do hope more existing and new games with support (MFi) controllers. It would also be nice if the kids account could also get access to (some) kids friendly games since currently you can only play the games with adult accounts and since my wife and I have a pincode set on those the kids can't play any games on their iPads.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Verified Whiskey Avatar
30 months ago
Oh yeah, I forgot this existed! That being said, a touchscreen as a controller? That is not going to do well. There’s no tactile feedback. How will you know what you’re tapping on if you’re looking at a different screen?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maxoakland Avatar
30 months ago

Even Apple knows the iPhone is a bad controller. That's why they use Xbox, PS, and Switch controllers, among others.

This just proves once again that Netflix has bad leadership making bad decisions and they will continue to decline.
That's really not a reasonable point. Especially when so many games on the iPhone are successful. I think it would be bad if they tried to make it control games like Mario or something but the idea is solid
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
30 months ago

how many people actually play these games?
not heard anyone go "have you played this Netflix game?". no one.
Haven't heard anyone go "Have you played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" either, yet it was the biggest CoD franchise launch ('https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-has-biggest-playstation-store-launch-of-all-time-for-cod-series/1100-6508735/') in PlayStation store and most popular paid game ('https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-is-steams-most-popular-paid-game-right-now/1100-6509243/') not too long ago.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)