- Play on your Smart TV without a console using your mobile as a controller with QR pairing.
- First five party games and multiplayer social at no extra cost to subscribers.
- Wide compatibility on televisions and early beta in numerous countries.
- Strategic focus: social experiences, known licenses and own IP.
Netflix is preparing a major leap in its home entertainment offering: play directly on your TV without console and with the mobile as a remote controlThe company has been testing its cloud gaming technology for some time now and has already confirmed that the experience will be open to the general public during the 2025 holiday season, integrating it into the Games tab of the TV app.
The idea is that participating is as simple as sitting down to watch a series on a Friday night: You open Netflix on your Smart TV, choose a game and scan a QR code. to sync your phone. From there, the action takes place on the big screen, and each player controls their part from their mobile device—a social and accessible dynamic that eliminates the barrier of a traditional console.
What is it and how does it work to play on TV with your mobile as a controller?
Netflix's new feature for TVs lets you access a dedicated section of titles ready to play right in the TV app. Go to the Games tab or the dedicated row on the main screen and you'll see what's available on your device. No console or accessories required: just a compatible Smart TV or supported media player, the Netflix app, and a smartphone connected to the same home network.
To join the game, the matchmaking process is straightforward: Scan the QR code that appears on the TV when you press Play. This link will open or install the Netflix app on your phone, and it will become your remote. Gameplay takes place on the TV, while controls are managed from your phone, in a very similar way to what Jackbox games popularized.
This approach advocates social multiplayer and reducing technical friction: your telephone iOS o Android acts as a remote control without cables or complicated configurations, and it's all integrated into the same app where you already watch TV shows and movies. It's a way to universalize access to casual parlor gaming, regardless of one's prior experience with video games.
In addition to the TV, Netflix has also been testing the computer experience via Netflix.com. If you see a row of games when logging into your account from a browser, means your device is included in the beta program and meets the requirements. With the announced expansion, the company aims to bring this format to the general public, starting during the holiday season.
Games available at launch and expanding catalog
Netflix has confirmed a first selection designed for group play from the couch. The five initial titles adapted for television are the following:
- LEGO Party
- Boggle Party
- Pictionary: Game Night
- Tetris Time Warp
- Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends
In some lists the name Intruders also appears within that first wave, a variation that reflects that The catalog is under construction and may be adjusted before its global deployment.. In any case, the platform has made it clear that this is only the first batch and that the number of games will grow progressively with There.
A differentiating aspect is that, if you already pay for Netflix, There are no extra costs, ads, or in-app purchases.For typical living room party games, this is a clear advantage over the traditional model, where comparable titles can cost around €30–€40 on consoles or PCs. Here, the social and family-friendly aspect is included in the subscription, encouraging you to try it without fear or complications.
These titles are designed to allow anyone to participate in minutes and to encourage spontaneous participation. The phone you already have at hand becomes your remote control, so adding players is as easy as joining the Wi-Fi network and scanning the QR code on the screen. It's the typical quick game you can start at a get-together with friends or a family afternoon, without any complex setup or menus.
Devices and compatibility
Netflix has tested its system on a wide range of devices and plans to expand support. Compatible devices include Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, Roku, Nvidia Shield and Vizio Smart TV, as well as other brands and models that will be added over time. The key is to have the Netflix app updated on your TV or media player.
During the beta phase, access to games on TVs and on Netflix.com has been enabled for a group of subscribers in countries such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA. If you see the specific row of games when browsing, it means your account is included and your hardware meets the requirements.
For the commercial launch, the company says it will be enough to have a compatible Smart TV, an active subscription and a smartphone (iOS or Android) connected to the same networkNo external Bluetooth controllers or consoles are required: your phone will take over that role with a dedicated interface that appears after pairing via QR code.
How to pair your phone and start playing
The flow is designed so that everyone can get started in seconds. Open Netflix on your TV or access Netflix.com from your browser., locate the game you're interested in in the Games tab or its dedicated row and select Play to display the QR code on the screen.
- Using your Android phone or tablet, open the camera app and point it at the TV to scan the QR code.
- Tap the link that appears. If you don't have the Netflix app installed on your phone, the link will direct you to download it. Tap Install.
- After installation, open Netflix directly from the store to continue. If you've already closed the store, scan the QR code again to resume the process.
- Upon completion of pairing, The mobile phone will be connected as a controller and the game will start on the TV..
Please note that for now, The only supported controller is a mobile phone or tablet.; other controllers are not accepted. Additionally, you must scan the QR code every time you start a new game. In some experiences, your phone acts as a controller without the need to log in to your phone, as the session is linked to your TV via the QR code.
If you're playing on Netflix.com from your computer, there are helpful shortcuts to manage your session. To exit the game from the browser, you can press Shift+Tab and then click the "Exit Game" option.If you're using a mobile controller, tap the Netflix button on your phone's interface and select "Quit Game" when you're done.
On TVs, exiting is also easy: From your mobile controller, tap the Netflix button and select "Exit Game"Alternatively, on your TV remote, press the back button and confirm “Quit Game” when prompted.
Troubleshooting, maintenance, and best practices
Since the experience on TVs and on Netflix.com was born as a beta to test the streaming and the use of the mobile phone as a remote controlYou may experience occasional issues. If you see the message "Games are currently unavailable" or notice a title missing, it's likely maintenance is underway, and you'll want to check back later.
If something isn't working as it should, there are some basic tips that usually help: Check that your TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network, update the Netflix app on both, log out and log back in. and even restarts devices. Since the system relies on home connectivity, any improvement in network stability will translate into a smoother gaming experience.
Netflix encourages you to share feedback to improve the service. At the end of a session you can send feedback from the mobile phone you used as a controller or with a keyboard and mouse. If you played on Netflix.com. If you need additional help, Customer Service is available to investigate and resolve issues.
To optimize quality, it is advisable to follow good connectivity practices: if you router If this is allowed, use the 5 GHz band for Wi-Fi or connect your TV via Ethernet cable.Minimizing interference and concentrating bandwidth on your home network improves latency, which is key for interactive streaming experiences.
Privacy and data use
The company explains that, in addition to what is stated in its Privacy Statement, When you play games on your TV or on Netflix.com, information is collected about the Netflix app, your device, and your account. that have been used to play. If you use your phone as a controller, your game action data is linked to the account you used to open the game on your TV.
This processing is carried out in accordance with Netflix's privacy policy and is intended to improve your experience. QR code linking simplifies access and reduces friction, since the remote doesn't need to know or store your credentials; it acts as a secure remote control that's associated with the active TV session.
Context, strategy and what's next
Since 2021, Netflix has been offering mobile games and has been exploring how to bring them to the big screen. The idea is to unify series, movies and video games in a single service., relying on streaming infrastructure and latency improvements to make cloud gaming viable in the living room. Following beta tests in markets such as Spain, the US, Canada, France, Mexico, Germany, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, and others, the company is preparing to open its doors globally in the 2025 holiday season.
Those responsible have emphasized their focus on shared experiences. Greg Peters, co-CEO, has insisted on creating social games that bring people together from the couch, with access as easy as playing any content. Using a smartphone as a controller is a perfect catalyst: we all have it at our fingertips, it doesn't require any additional purchases, and it allows you to add players on the fly.
The strategy is not short-term. Alain Tascan, head of the video game division, has detailed four priority areas that will guide development at this stage: children's games, party games, titles based on major recognized licenses, and creations that take advantage of proprietary intellectual properties such as Stranger Things.
This roadmap fits with the nature of the platform and the trend toward collaborative leisure. Easy-to-understand parlor games with intuitive controls are ideal for breaking the ice. and to extend the time users spend within the Netflix ecosystem. The proposal also competes on value: subscribers don't pay extra to try out games that, in other contexts, would have a separate retail price.
As a complement, Netflix reminds us that there are several ways to connect mobile phones to televisions to watch content or use them as basic controls. In this new format, the mobile phone takes on the role of game controller with a specific interface., connecting to the TV session via QR code. This is a step beyond simple "cast to screen," which leverages the phone as an input interface for the game.
All of this is supported by support for iOS and Android, as well as a growing list of compatible TVs and players. The ambition is to turn the Netflix app into a place to watch, play, share and connect., avoiding switching between apps and facilitating spontaneous sessions with family and friends.
The combination of games designed for local multiplayer, access at no additional cost for subscribers, and the ability to use a mobile device as a controller creates a powerful proposition. If you see the game row on your TV or on Netflix.com, try scanning the QR code and jump right in.: is a preview of how Netflix wants to evolve living room entertainment into social, convenient, and accessible experiences for everyone.
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