Netflix games are coming soon to TVs, the company has confirmed, as it has released an iPhone/iPad game controller app. There is still no word on support for physical game controllers.

 Netflix Game Controller App
The game controller app is available now from Apple's app store. It is a basic app that has a directional pad to the left and four buttons to the right.

- "Coming soon to Netflix. Play games on your TV with the Netflix Game Controller. This Game Controller app pairs with your TV and allows you to play games on Netflix using your phone or mobile device," said Netflix.

Netflix currently offers games such as Asphalt Extreme, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Into the Dead 2, Moonlighter, Oxenfree, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Spiritfarer, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Valiant Hearts: Coming Home and Kentucky Route Zero. Games are included in the normal subscription package.

It is not clear if all Netflix games will be available to play on TVs and Netflix has not detailed which TV devices will be supported, or how: Will games be available to download on some devices or will it be cloud gaming only?


Physical game controllers?
While a virtual game controller on a touch screen can work for some games, it will not work well. The key issue, of course, is that you are not looking at the phone or tablet but rather the TV.

Netflix should therefore also add support for physical game controllers such as the Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox and third-party Bluetooth controllers over time – preferably at launch.

Netflix is unlikely to challenge PlayStation and Xbox at any point in the foreseeable future but their gaming service could potentially challenge Apple Arcade on Apple TV and Nintendo Switch in the short to medium term.