
Would you think about engaging in Boggle or Pictionary on your television? Netflix thinks you might.
On Thursday, Netflix introduced a new function named Game Night, enabling users to enjoy multiple video games on their TV by using their phones as controllers. Debuting today, Game Night features Boggle Party, Lego Party!, Pictionary: Game Night, Tetris Time Warp, and Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends. Game Night is now available without any additional subscription or fees.
A Netflix press statement mentions, “Netflix just made game night significantly easier. Now you can enjoy games on your television. All that’s required is Netflix and your mobile device. That’s all. Just like that, everything necessary to kick off playing with your friends and family is in the palm of your hands.”
Game Night signifies a transformation in Netflix’s approach to video games. The streaming platform initially dipped its toes into video games in 2021, yet it has not become a primary destination for gamers in the U.S. Since then, Netflix has released over 100 mobile games, as reported by the New York Times, with its leading title, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, achieving nearly 40 million downloads.
However, the concept of downloading is essential. Engaging with Netflix games required users to navigate to an app store and download an application, a cumbersome and unintuitive method for a streaming service. But with Netflix Game Night, users can engage in games directly within the Netflix app itself.
Netflix subscribers with a suitable device will gain instant access to Game Night, which is also available via web browsers. As per a Netflix declaration, “To play a game on your TV using your mobile device, choose a game, then scan the game’s QR code with your phone’s camera.” Furthermore, Netflix indicated in a press release that it will be unveiling a “stack of new titles” for the holiday season.
“Beginning today, you can enjoy games on your television, utilizing your phone as a controller — no setup required, it’s as simple as streaming your favorite shows,” stated Alain Tascan, president of games at Netflix, in a press release. “You can now transition from watching KPop Demon Hunters to playing Pictionary: Game Night without ever leaving Netflix. And for those who enjoy playing anytime and anywhere, we’re bringing even more games to your mobile device with our unique Netflix touch.”