Netflix: Kids Uninterested in Consoles, Dream Beyond PlayStation 6

Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, anticipates a future where the younger generation might not be as fixated on traditional gaming consoles. As industry giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to innovate with new hardware, Tascan shared his perspective on the evolving gaming landscape during an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix event in San Francisco. When asked about Netflix's potential foray into console gaming, Tascan expressed skepticism about the appeal of future consoles like the PlayStation 6 to younger audiences.

"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 in the car or elsewhere. "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 concerns, Tascan confessed a fondness for console gaming, citing Nintendo's Wii as a personal favorite. With his extensive background at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, traditional console releases are not unfamiliar territory for him. However, Netflix's strategy is steering towards a different path.

Netflix has successfully ventured into game adaptations with titles like Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game, accessible to subscribers as add-ons. The company has also made notable games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition available for play directly on mobile phones. Tascan emphasized Netflix's commitment to this strategy, focusing on developing party games and positioning itself as a hub for kids and gaming families.

"I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," Tascan explained to The Game Business. He highlighted subscription models as a form of friction, albeit beneficial for business, and mentioned experiments like removing the subscription requirement for the mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed. He further discussed other potential barriers, such as the need for multiple controllers within a family, the cost of hardware, and the wait times for game downloads, all of which he aims to minimize.

In early 2024, Netflix reported a tripling of game engagement throughout 2023, signaling continued investment in gaming despite a CNBC report from 2021 that indicated 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 of Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. A recent Game Developer report also noted layoffs at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio, which Netflix acquired in 2021.

As Netflix targets a market less interested in consoles, the industry's major players continue to advance. Sony and Microsoft are expected to release next-generation consoles like the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox, respectively. Meanwhile, Nintendo is on the brink of unveiling its next console, the Switch 2, with a dedicated Direct presentation next week, where fans anticipate details on features, release dates, and pre-order information.