A recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the Power On newsletter reveals that Netflix has no plans to develop a native version of its app for Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset.
While we might have expected that the arrival of Apple’s headphones on the market would excite developers and encourage them to work on compatible applications, the reality would be quite different. According to information from Mark Gurman, shared in his Power On newsletter, Netflix is not working on any native app for the Vision Pro mixed reality headset.
Instead of that, the company will allow its existing iPad app to run, unmodified, on the future headset. This decision is part of a very particular context, since Netflix has already rejected Apple’s in-app purchase system and its iOS and iPad applications do not support AirPlay. Additionally, subscribers cannot sign up for Netflix through Apple TV Channels, confirming some tension between the two companies.
The Vision Pro will not offer any native Netflix apps
While the iPad app may theoretically suffice for basic streaming, the experience may well not live up to expectations. If you are a virtual reality enthusiast, you probably know that Netflix has already designed its own app for Meta’s Quest headsets. When you open it, you are directly immersed in a comfortable room with furniture, and especially a sofa facing a giant screen.
While the Vision Pro is an ambitious new platform for the company, factors such as its $3,500 starting price and the limited number of sales expected in the first year could deter developers from investing resources in the platform. As a reminder, the Vision Pro will only be sold in stores, and only by appointment, Apple having to adjust the helmet itself for your morphology.
Despite these difficulties, the Vision Pro will launch with access to a large library of existing iPad apps that will be able to run without modification. Disney Plus has already pledged to support the deviceas the WWDC 2023 keynote showed. Additionally, Zoom and Microsoft have both announced software development for the Vision Pro.