Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, foresees a future where younger generations may move away from traditional gaming consoles. As industry giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to innovate with new hardware, Tascan shared his perspective on the evolving landscape of gaming during an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix event in San Francisco. When questioned about Netflix's potential entry into the console gaming market, Tascan expressed skepticism about the appeal of future consoles like a PlayStation 6 to the younger audience.
"Look at the younger generation. Are eight year-olds and ten year-olds dreaming of owning a PlayStation 6? I am not sure," Tascan remarked. He emphasized a shift towards a platform-agnostic future, where the focus is on interacting with any digital screen, regardless of the device or location. "With consoles, you're thinking about high definition, you're thinking about the controller... If we look at this older model, I think it will restrain us," he added, suggesting that traditional console models could limit Netflix's ambitions.
Despite his concerns, Tascan holds a fondness for console gaming, particularly praising Nintendo's Wii. With a background at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, he is no stranger to traditional console releases. However, Netflix's strategy is veering in a different direction, focusing on mobile gaming and family-friendly experiences.
Netflix has successfully adapted its IPs into games like Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game, and has also offered popular titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition for mobile play. Tascan reiterated Netflix's commitment to this approach, aiming to develop party games and position the platform as a hub for kids and gaming families.
Tascan is focused on reducing barriers to gaming, stating, "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." He also highlighted other frictions such as the need for multiple controllers, the cost of hardware, and download times, all of which he aims to minimize.
Netflix reported a tripling of game engagement in 2023, indicating a continued investment in gaming despite earlier reports from CNBC in 2021 suggesting less than 1% of subscribers were engaging with its games. However, in October 2024, Netflix scaled back its gaming efforts by closing its AAA studio led by former developers from Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. A Game Developer report also noted recent cuts at Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.
As Netflix aims to cater to a market it believes is moving away from consoles, the future of gaming hardware remains robust with anticipated releases like the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox from Sony and Microsoft, respectively. Nintendo is poised to unveil its next-generation Switch 2 at a dedicated Direct presentation next week, where details on features, release dates, and pre-orders are expected to be revealed.
