Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, has expressed a vision for the future of gaming that moves away from traditional consoles. In an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Tascan shared his perspective on the evolving gaming landscape. He questioned whether the younger generation, specifically children aged eight to ten, are as enamored with the idea of owning a future console like the PlayStation 6 as previous generations were.
"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 gamers can play on any digital screen, be it on a phone, tablet, or even in a car. Tascan believes that the traditional console model, which focuses on high-definition graphics and specialized controllers, may limit the industry's growth.
Despite his fondness for console gaming, having worked at major studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, Tascan sees a different path for Netflix. The company 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 directly on mobile devices. Tascan reiterated Netflix's commitment to this mobile-first strategy, aiming to develop party games and become a hub for kids and gamer families.
Tascan is focused on reducing what he calls "friction" in gaming. This includes not only subscription models but also the need for multiple controllers, the cost of hardware, and the time it takes to download games. "I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," he stated, mentioning a test where the subscription was removed for the mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed.
Netflix's engagement in gaming has seen significant growth, with a tripling of games engagement throughout 2023. However, the company also faced setbacks, such as the closure of its AAA studio led by former developers from Overwatch, Halo, and God of War in October 2024, and recent cuts at Night School Studio, acquired by Netflix in 2021.
While Netflix anticipates a future where consoles may become less central to gaming, major players like Sony and Microsoft are expected to continue developing new hardware, with Sony likely to release a PlayStation 6 and Microsoft a next Xbox. Nintendo is on the cusp of a new console generation with its upcoming Switch 2, set to be unveiled in detail next week through a focused Direct presentation, where fans eagerly await information on features, release date, and pre-order details.
Netflix says kids don't care about consoles. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
