Netflix’s gaming plans could involve PlayStation partnership

Netflix's gaming plans could involve PlayStation partnership

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Last week, it was revealed that Netflix had fired the starting gun on its gaming ambitions with the hire of old EA and Oculus man Mike Verdu as its vice president of game development.

But Netflix was extremely tight-lipped about what its gaming plans would ultimately await like with everything from more 'choose your ain run a risk' fashion content to total fledged triple-A content mooted.

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Now dataminer Steve Moser has establish something pretty intriguing buried within the iOS Netflix app'south code. Not merely did Moser uncover a possible logo — a shark fin emerging from the water, equally the electric current working name is apparently "Shark" — but he also institute an epitome of a pair of DualSense controllers, and artwork from PlayStation exclusive Ghost of Tsushima. Notably, these images were all removed when the app was later updated.

Netflix'southward gaming feature has a current working proper name of "Shark" and is represented past this image in their iOS app: a shark fin. Could an prototype of PS5 controllers and Sony's Ghost of Tsushima (director's cut coming Aug. 20th) signal a partnership with $SONY? Cc @HedgeyeComm $NFLX pic.twitter.com/FLghlRlu20July 15, 2021

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Plus, while Sony Pictures and the Sony PlayStation sectionalisation are definitely split entities, information technology would be remiss not to mention that Netflix recently signed a deal to stream the company'southward movies once their movie theater run is consummate. That includes the upcoming Uncharted flick, potentially providing a squeamish span between movies and games.

But it'due south of import not to go too carried away: this could all be coincidence and hearsay. Maybe someone working on the app needed some game images, and just used Tsushima and the DualSense controller as a placeholder, non thinking they would be seen outside the role.

Plus, Verdu's gaming experience is primarily in the expanse of putting games in unexpected places, from helping launch The Sims on smartphone to ensuring Farmville took over everyone'south Facebook feeds a decade ago. Only getting existing PlayStation games on Netflix sounds like a waste of his knowhow.

All the same, it could be a win-win for both parties. For Netflix, the benefit is obvious: it would become a running start with some of the best-known gaming franchises around, without having to source and/or fund its own titles. Even Apple with its enormous resource has struggled to gain traction for Apple Arcade this manner.

Sony, meanwhile, would seemingly lose the advantage of the PS4 and PS5 being the only identify to play its games. Simply such a motion could then take away the competitive advantage Microsoft has managed to build with its Xbox Game Pass streaming service.

Once more, all speculation for the time beingness. But the idea of gaming getting its own department on Netflix and beingness able to jump straight from the best Netflix shows to Demon's Souls without switching HDMI channels sounds promising to us.

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Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are constitute all over the web and in the occasional mag too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably observe him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.