Netflix launched five games for Android users earlier this month - Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoop, Card Blast, and Teeter Up.
The same has not been offered to Apple users as of now.
This is because Apple’s policies restrict third-party apps from functioning as a gaming hub.
Earlier this month, Netflix began rolling out games for Android users. However, the same has not been made available on iOS devices so far. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pointed out that Apple’s own policies may prevent Netflix from offering the same game via its own app.
Why will Netflix have to offer games via the App Store?
Apple’s policies prevent any third-party apps from functioning as a hub for games or even as a mini app store. Cloud gaming services such as Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Microsoft’s xCloud have raised this as an issue in the past as users have to launch their platforms through the App Store’s web browser, as opposed to directly opening the platform itself.
In order to offer its own games, Netflix will have to offer games through the Apple App Store. In other words, Apple users won't be able to play Netflix games through the Netflix app itself, the way Android users can.
Who can play games on Netflix now?
At the moment, Android users of the app can access the games and play them at their leisure. Netflix has currently offered five games including Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoop, Card Blast, and Teeter Up, and plans to expand its repository as the year progresses. The company has also confirmed that some of these games require an active internet connection, while others can be played offline.
It’s important to note that while every profile on the app will be able to see a separate tab where games can be browsed and downloaded, the same does not hold true for the kids’ profile. It will be interesting to see how these games are received by the audience, and what Netflix will offer next.
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Kajoli Anand Puri
Kajoli is a tech-enthusiast with a soft-spot for smart kitchen and home appliances. She loves exploring gadgets and gizmos that are designed to make life simpler, but also secretly fears a world run by AI. Oh wait, we’re already there. View Full Profile
