In Netflix’s recently released Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, the fate of Stefan Butler, a troubled young video game programmer, is in the viewers’ hands. That is if those viewers don’t have an Apple TV or other outdated software or devices.
According to The Verge, the installment isn’t compatible with Chromecast, Apple TV, and “some legacy devices.” Of course, the technical issue has attracted outcries from many Netflix users who wanted to watch the unique choose-your-own-experience installment.
The installment was written using Twine, a platform that requires a high level of sophistication from viewers’ devices, which is why the episode is not supported by every device. In fact, the episode does not work on many other devices that do not support Netflix’s most recent software updates.
This doesn’t mean that viewers can watch the full episode without interacting. It means viewers using incompatible devices won’t be able to see it at all: Netflix’s help center reads: “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is only available on devices that support interactive content. No linear version is available.”
Netflix told The Verge via email that there is no comprehensive list that tells which devices support Bandersnatch and which don’t.
Thus, some users won’t experience the frenzy around Bandersnatch. They will need to either watch it on a different device (updates seem to be easily available on smartphone and laptops) or ask a friend to Netflix and chill.
H/T The Verge