Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, envisions a future where the younger generation may move away from traditional gaming consoles. As industry giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to develop new hardware, Tascan shared his perspective on the evolving gaming landscape during an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco. When asked about Netflix's potential foray into console gaming, Tascan expressed doubts about younger gamers' interest in future consoles like the PlayStation 6.
"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 platform-agnostic gaming, where kids are more interested in interacting with any digital screen, be it in their hands or in their car. "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, highlighting a potential limitation of the traditional console model.
Despite his concerns, Tascan admitted a fondness for console gaming, particularly citing Nintendo's Wii as a personal favorite. With a background at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, he's no stranger to traditional console releases. However, for Netflix, the trajectory is shifting towards a different approach.
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 made notable games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition available to subscribers on mobile devices. Tascan underscored Netflix's commitment to this mobile-first strategy, aiming to develop party games and position itself as a hub for kids and gamer families.
"I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," Tascan told The Game Business. He discussed the concept of "friction" in gaming, from subscription models to the need for multiple controllers, expensive hardware, and lengthy download times. "But the other friction is having enough controllers for family. Having a piece of hardware that might be expensive, that’s another friction. Waiting for a game to download, that’s another friction. I am [looking at] all the obstacles, and asking if we can reduce them as much as possible," he elaborated.
Netflix's focus on gaming has seen significant growth, with game engagement tripling throughout 2023, as reported in early 2024. This growth comes 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 ambitions by shutting down its AAA studio, led by former developers from Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. Additionally, a Game Developer report from last month noted that cuts had also affected Oxenfree developer Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.
As Netflix aims to cater to a market less interested in traditional consoles, it remains to be seen how this strategy will play out. Meanwhile, industry leaders like Sony and Microsoft are expected to continue with their console developments, with Sony likely to unveil a PlayStation 6 and Microsoft a next Xbox. Nintendo is on the cusp of a new console generation with its highly anticipated Switch 2, set to be revealed in detail next week during a focused Direct presentation, where fans eagerly await news on features, release date, and pre-order details.
