Alain Tascan, Netflix's President of Games, envisions a future where the younger generation is less focused on traditional gaming consoles. As major companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to innovate with new hardware, Tascan shared his perspective on the evolving gaming landscape during an interview with The Game Business after a Netflix presentation in San Francisco. When questioned about Netflix's potential foray into console gaming, Tascan expressed doubts about the appeal of future consoles like the PlayStation 6 to younger audiences.
"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 children are more interested in interacting with any digital screen, regardless of location—even in cars. "With console, 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.
Despite his concerns, Tascan holds a fondness for console gaming, particularly citing Nintendo’s Wii as a favorite. With extensive experience at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, he is no stranger to traditional console game releases. However, for Netflix, the trend is moving in a different direction.
Netflix has successfully adapted its IPs into games with subscription add-ons, such as Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game. The company has also offered well-known titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition, accessible directly from mobile devices. Tascan confirmed at the recent event that Netflix will intensify its focus on this mobile-centric strategy, developing party games and positioning itself as a hub for kids and gaming families.
"I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," Tascan explained to The Game Business. He highlighted the concept of friction, including subscription models, as something to be minimized. "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 noted. Tascan also pointed out other barriers like the need for multiple controllers, the cost of hardware, and download wait times, expressing a commitment to reducing these obstacles as much as possible.
In early 2024, Netflix reported a tripling of games engagement throughout 2023, signaling continued investment in the gaming sector despite a CNBC report from 2021 indicating that less than 1% of subscribers were engaging with its games. However, in October 2024, Netflix scaled back its gaming ambitions by shutting down its AAA studio led by former developers of Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. Recent cuts also affected Oxenfree developer Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.
As Netflix aims to cater to a market less interested in consoles, the industry still anticipates new hardware from Sony and Microsoft, such as the PlayStation 6 and next Xbox. Nintendo is poised to unveil its next-generation console, the Switch 2, at a Direct presentation next week, where fans are eager to learn about its features, release date, and pre-order details.
