Netflix: Kids Uninterested in Consoles, Focus on Other Dreams

Alain Tascan, Netflix's President of Games, foresees a future where gaming consoles may not hold the same allure for younger generations as major players like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to innovate with new hardware. During an insightful interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Tascan discussed how gaming enthusiasts might interact with their favorite titles in the coming years. When questioned about Netflix's potential foray into console gaming, Tascan expressed doubts about the younger demographic'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 the platform becomes irrelevant, stating, "They are wanting to interact with any digital screen, whatever it is, wherever it is, even in the car. With consoles, 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."

Despite his reservations about console gaming, Tascan revealed a personal fondness for the genre, citing Nintendo's Wii as a favorite. With extensive experience at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, traditional console gaming isn't unfamiliar territory for him. However, Netflix is steering in a different direction, focusing on a more versatile gaming experience.

Netflix has a solid track record of creating game adaptations from its IPs, with titles like Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game, along with offering access to popular games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition. These games are accessible directly on mobile devices, aligning with Tascan's vision of reducing gaming friction. "I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," he shared. "I see that the subscription is friction as well. 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."

Tascan also highlighted additional frictions associated with console gaming: "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."

In early 2024, Netflix reported a tripling of game engagement throughout 2023, indicating a continued commitment to the gaming sector despite a CNBC report from 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 affected Oxenfree developer Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.

As Netflix aims to cater to a market less interested in gaming consoles, the future of consoles from Sony and Microsoft remains robust. Meanwhile, Nintendo is on the brink of launching the highly anticipated Switch 2, with a focused Direct presentation scheduled for next week to unveil more about its features, release date, and pre-order details.