According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, Netflix plans to release its mobile games for iOS individually through the App Store. After uncovering code in the Netflix app that indicates an innovative approach to get past Apple’s constraints, developer Steve Moser shared the knowledge with Bloomberg. Netflix is planning to offer each of their games on the App Store separately, requiring a separate download in addition to the main app.
The service, which employs a similar methodology, is already available for Android. Within the Netflix app on Android, there is a dedicated games tab. When you tap a game, it takes you to Google Play, where you can download the application and log in to your Netflix account. On iOS, it should operate similarly. You’ll probably have to sign in to your Netflix account after downloading a game from Netflix on the App Store.
The workaround is ingenious, but it isn’t perfect. Netflix would not technically be breaking any App Store restrictions if it did this. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple stopped Netflix from displaying the games page on Android. It’s unlikely to be the seamless, all-in-one solution that Netflix envisions. Setapp and other subscription services work similarly.
Setapp is a Mac app subscription service that recently expanded to include iOS apps. Setapp requires you first to download the app from the App Store and scan a QR code provided as part of your subscription. The app will open and validate your subscription when you watch the QR code. Instead of studying a legend, the Netflix system would force you to check in to your account manually.
It’s unknown when Netflix will start its game service for iOS and iPadOS, but it’ll be interesting to watch how well it does. The company has already stated via Twitter that it will be available on iPhone and iPad. Unfortunately, apple bans third-party applications from serving as a game hub. It has sparked conflict amongst cloud gaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Google Stadia. It can be done Only by delivering their games through a web app, as Facebook has previously done, can cloud gaming companies get past this.
According to Gurman’s monthly Power On newsletter, Netflix will skirt Apple’s rules by making its games available on the App Store. It implies you won’t be able to download or play games through the Netflix application. You’ll only be able to download them. On Android, the service operates in this way; the games are beautifully bundled in a dedicated tab within the Netflix application but must be downloaded individually from the Google Play Store. While this configuration is exemplary, it is inadequate for all-in-one gaming assistance.
From within the service, users should be capable of downloading and playing games. As a result, Gurman says Netflix will finally shift its games to the cloud. Again, this would be excellent for Android, but Apple’s management makes cloud gaming almost hard to work, forcing services to do with rudimentary web apps. It’s unclear what will happen to Netflix on iOS if and when the company decides to embrace cloud gaming.
