Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, anticipates a shift away from traditional gaming consoles as industry giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo advance with their latest hardware. During an insightful interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Tascan expressed skepticism about the younger generation's 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 future where gaming platforms become more agnostic, allowing children to play on any digital screen, whether it's at home or in the car. This vision contrasts sharply with the traditional console model, which he believes might limit accessibility and engagement due to its focus on high definition and specialized controllers.
Despite his concerns, Tascan admitted a fondness for console gaming, citing Nintendo's Wii as a personal favorite. With years of experience at major studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, he is well-versed in the traditional console space. However, for Netflix, the direction is clear: moving away from conventional consoles towards a more inclusive, mobile-centric gaming experience.
Netflix has already made strides in this direction by offering game adaptations based on its IPs, such as Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game, along with popular titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition, all playable directly on mobile devices. Tascan reiterated Netflix's commitment to reducing barriers to gaming, highlighting efforts to eliminate subscription fees for certain mobile games like Squid Game: Unleashed as part of ongoing experiments.
"I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," Tascan stated. He pointed out various obstacles to gaming, such as the need for multiple controllers in a family setting, the cost of hardware, and the wait times for game downloads, all of which Netflix aims to minimize.
Netflix's focus on gaming has shown significant growth, with game engagement tripling in 2023. This success contrasts with earlier reports from CNBC in 2021, which noted that less than 1% of subscribers were engaging with Netflix's games. Despite this progress, Netflix scaled back its gaming ambitions in October 2024 by closing its AAA studio, previously led by developers from Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. Further cuts were reported at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.
As Netflix targets a market less interested in traditional game consoles, major players like Sony and Microsoft are expected to continue developing next-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox. Meanwhile, Nintendo is on the brink of launching its highly anticipated Switch 2, with a dedicated Direct presentation scheduled for next week to unveil its new features, release date, and pre-order details.
