Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, anticipates a future where gaming consoles may become less central to the gaming experience, as industry giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to innovate with new hardware. During an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Tascan discussed how younger gamers might interact with their favorite games in the future. When asked about Netflix's potential interest in console gaming, Tascan expressed skepticism about the appeal of upcoming 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 further elaborated on the evolving nature of gaming platforms, saying, "When it comes to console, we started to look at the future where the platform is agnostic. They are wanting to interact with any digital screen, whatever it is, wherever it is, even in the car. With console 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 traditional console gaming, Tascan expressed a fondness for consoles, particularly citing Nintendo's Wii as a personal favorite. With his extensive background at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, the concept of traditional console game releases is familiar to him. However, Netflix's strategy is moving in a different direction.

Netflix has successfully ventured into game adaptations tied to its IPs, offering titles like Stranger Things 3: The Game and Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game as subscription add-ons. Additionally, the company has provided access to well-known games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition, playable directly on mobile phones. Tascan emphasized during the event that Netflix is committed to this mobile-centric strategy, focusing on developing party games and positioning itself as a hub for kids and gaming families.

Tascan is focused on reducing barriers to gaming. "I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," he stated. "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." He also highlighted additional hurdles such as the need for multiple controllers for family gaming, the cost of hardware, and the time it takes to download games.

Netflix reported a tripling of game engagement in 2023, indicating continued investment in the gaming sector. Despite a CNBC report from 2021 suggesting less than 1% of subscribers were engaging with its games, Netflix remains committed. However, in October 2024, the company scaled back its ambitions by shutting down its AAA studio, which was led by former developers from 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.

While Netflix anticipates a shift away from consoles among younger audiences, major players like Sony and Microsoft are expected to continue developing next-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox. Meanwhile, Nintendo is preparing to unveil its next console, the Switch 2, with a dedicated Direct presentation next week. Fans are eagerly awaiting details on the Switch 2's features, release date, and pre-order information.