Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, envisions a future where younger generations may not be as fixated on traditional gaming consoles as major players like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to advance their hardware. During an insightful interview with The Game Business after a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Tascan shared his perspective on how the next generation of gaming enthusiasts might engage with their favorite games.
When questioned about Netflix's potential foray into console gaming, Tascan expressed skepticism about the younger demographic's interest in future console iterations like the PlayStation 6. He remarked, "Look at the younger generation. Are eight year-olds and ten year-olds dreaming of owning a PlayStation 6? I am not sure." He highlighted a shift towards platform agnosticism, where children are more interested in interacting with digital screens in various contexts, including in cars, rather than being tied to specific hardware like consoles.
Despite his fondness for console gaming—citing the Nintendo Wii as a personal favorite due to his extensive background at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games—Tascan believes that the traditional console model could limit Netflix's reach. He emphasized a future where gaming is more accessible and less reliant on high-definition graphics and controllers, which he associates with older gaming models.
Netflix has successfully adapted its IPs into games, offering titles like Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game as subscription add-ons. Additionally, the company has made notable games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition available for mobile play. Tascan reiterated Netflix's commitment to expanding its mobile gaming strategy, focusing on developing party games and positioning itself as a hub for kids and gamer families.
Tascan is passionate about reducing barriers to gaming. He discussed the concept of "friction" in gaming, which includes subscription fees, the need for multiple controllers within a family, the cost of hardware, and the time required to download games. He noted, "I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can. I see that the subscription is friction as well. Maybe good friction because it makes business sense, but still we did the test of eliminating subscription for [mobile game] Squid Game: Unleashed. And we may do other tests."
Netflix reported a tripling of games engagement in 2023, indicating a strong future investment in gaming despite earlier reports from CNBC in 2021 suggesting less than 1% of subscribers were engaging with their game offerings. However, in October 2024, Netflix scaled back its gaming ambitions by shutting down its AAA studio led by former developers from Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. Further cuts were reported by Game Developer last month at Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.
While Netflix anticipates a market less interested in game consoles, the industry giants Sony and Microsoft are expected to release next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox. Meanwhile, Nintendo is on the brink of launching the Switch 2, with a dedicated Direct presentation planned to unveil more details about its features, release date, and pre-order information.
