Netflix: Kids Uninterested in Consoles, Focus on Other Dreams

Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, envisions a future where younger generations may not be as fixated on traditional gaming consoles. As tech giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to develop new hardware, Tascan shared his perspective on the evolving landscape of gaming during an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco. When questioned about Netflix's potential entry into console gaming, Tascan expressed doubts about the younger generation's interest in upcoming 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 a platform-agnostic future, where kids are more interested in interacting with any digital screen, be it a phone, tablet, or even in-car entertainment systems. He highlighted the limitations of traditional consoles, mentioning high-definition graphics and controllers as aspects that could potentially "restrain" broader engagement.

Despite his reservations about console gaming, Tascan admitted a personal fondness for it, citing the Nintendo Wii as a favorite. With a background at major studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, he is no stranger to traditional game releases. However, for Netflix, the focus is clearly shifting towards more accessible and versatile gaming experiences.

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 offered popular titles such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition directly through mobile devices. Tascan emphasized Netflix's commitment to reducing "friction" in gaming, from subscription models to the need for expensive hardware and lengthy downloads. He mentioned the company's experiment with removing subscription requirements for Squid Game: Unleashed as a step towards making gaming more accessible.

"I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," Tascan stated, pointing out challenges like the need for multiple controllers for family gaming and the costs associated with hardware. His goal is to minimize these obstacles as much as possible.

Netflix's engagement with gaming has seen significant growth, with game interactions tripling in 2023. Despite this success, the company scaled back its gaming ambitions in October 2024 by shutting down its AAA studio and making cuts at Night School Studio, which it acquired in 2021.

As Netflix aims to cater to a market it believes will move away from consoles, industry leaders like Sony and Microsoft are expected to continue advancing with new console generations, such as the PlayStation 6 and next Xbox. Nintendo, on the other hand, is gearing up to reveal details about its next-generation console, the Switch 2, in an upcoming Direct presentation. Fans are eager to learn about the new features, release date, and pre-order information for this highly anticipated device.