In a recent interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Alain Tascan, President of Games at Netflix, shared his vision for the future of gaming. Tascan believes that the younger generation may not be as interested in traditional gaming consoles as their predecessors. He questioned whether today's eight and ten-year-olds dream of owning a PlayStation 6, suggesting that their focus is more on interacting with any digital screen, regardless of the device or location—even in the car. He emphasized that the future of gaming might be platform-agnostic, moving away from the traditional console model that emphasizes high definition and specific controllers.
Despite his affinity for console gaming, highlighted by his fondness for Nintendo’s Wii, Tascan's experience at major studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games informs his perspective that Netflix's strategy should differ. The streaming giant is leaning into mobile gaming, allowing subscribers to play games directly from their phones, as seen with titles like Stranger Things 3: The Game, Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game, and even Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition. Tascan emphasized Netflix's commitment to reducing friction for gamers, including experimenting with removing subscription barriers for games like Squid Game: Unleashed.
Tascan also pointed out other forms of friction that traditional console gaming introduces, such as the need for multiple controllers for family play, the cost of hardware, and the wait times for game downloads. His goal is to minimize these obstacles to enhance the gaming experience.
Netflix reported a tripling of game engagement in 2023, indicating a strong future in the gaming sector. However, the company also scaled back its ambitions by shutting down its AAA studio in October 2024, which was led by former developers of Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. Additionally, cuts were made at Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.
While Netflix anticipates a shift away from traditional consoles, major players like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are still pushing forward with new hardware. Nintendo is set to unveil its next-generation console, the Switch 2, with a dedicated Direct presentation next week, where fans eagerly await details on its features, release date, and pre-order information.
