GAME ON
Roku fans can unlock free video games on TV if you have Netflix subscription – list reveals if your model gets the perk
Another free perk is available for some Roku customers with a Netflix account - read on to see if you qualify
ROKU users with a Netflix subscription can unlock dozens of mobile games at no additional cost.
Roku is regarded as one of the most popular free, ad-supported streaming services, offering hundreds of movies and shows at no charge to viewers.
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And select users can unlock another perk - Netflix Games on TV.
This beta experience is limited to customers in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
It is also restricted to three television models: Express 4K with model number 3940X2 and Roku TV models G000GB and G000X.
Eligible customers can play a vast selection of free games using their mobile phone as a controller.
All you have to do is navigate to the games section within the Netflix app on your Roku account and select the one you'd like to play.
Next, scan the QR code displayed onscreen to connect your mobile device.
Offerings include Hades, a dungeon crawl game; three entries from the popular Grand Theft Auto franchise; and a variety of logic and puzzle games.
If you're unsure what Roku model you have, there are several ways to find out.
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The back or bottom of the physical device should be marked with a serial number or ID.
This information can also be found within the Settings menu, under "About" in the "System" tab.
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Users who have held on to the original packaging for their Roku player or Roku audio device can also find a serial number on the product label by the UPC code.
Alternatively, you may be able to get this information through the Roku mobile app.
After selecting "Devices" on the bottom navigation bar, tap the device you wish to connect to.
Select "Options" next to the connected device, followed by "View System Info." This will display both the serial number and device ID.
Troubleshooting for the beta experience is available through the Netflix Help Center.
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The relationship between the streaming services stretches back over more than a decade.
Roku teamed up with the major streamer in the creation of its first device, long before the genesis of the Roku Channel.
Months after meeting at a conference, Roku CEO and founder Anthony Wood struck a deal with Netflix founder Reed Hastings to create a streaming box for the company.
It was never completed, but Netflix received 15% of Roku's equity in exchange for patents, more than two dozen Netflix employees and some cash.
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Netflix ultimately sold its shares in the company to a venture capital firm in 2009.
Despite rumors of a possible acquisition in 2022, no such agreement panned out.
The Roku Channel – what you need to know
Here's the lowdown...
The Roku Channel is a streaming app that's available on a range of devices.
It offers more than 400 live TV channels.
And it promises over 80,000 movies and TV shows on an on-demand basis.
Roku says that the app is available on:
- Roku streaming devices
- Compatible Samsung Smart TVs
- Compatible AMazon Fire TV devices
- TheRokuChannel.com website
- Roku mobile apps (iOS and Android)
Roku notes that the app is only available in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It's also available in Mexico, but only on Roku devices.