Netflix: Kids Prefer Streaming Over Gaming Consoles

Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, has shared insights into the evolving landscape of gaming, suggesting that future generations may be less interested in traditional gaming consoles. During an interview with The Game Business following a Netflix presentation in San Francisco, Tascan highlighted a shift in the gaming industry, driven by major players like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, who are continuously developing new hardware. However, he questioned whether younger gamers, such as eight and ten-year-olds, are even dreaming of owning a 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 gaming platforms are more agnostic, allowing players to interact with any digital screen, whether it's a phone, tablet, or even in-car entertainment systems. "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," he added.

Despite his personal affinity for console gaming, having worked at studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games, Tascan believes that Netflix's approach should focus on reducing barriers to gaming. He fondly recalled his experiences with the Nintendo Wii but sees a different path for Netflix. The company 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 well-known titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition directly on mobile devices for subscribers.

Netflix says kids don't care about consoles. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Tascan is committed to lowering the friction associated with gaming. "I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can," he stated, explaining that even subscriptions can be a form of friction, albeit beneficial for business. He mentioned testing the removal of subscription barriers for the mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed, hinting at potential future experiments. Additional frictions he identified include the need for multiple controllers, the cost of hardware, and the time required to download games. "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," he explained, emphasizing his goal to reduce these obstacles as much as possible.

Netflix's engagement with games tripled in 2023, according to early 2024 reports, signaling strong growth and a commitment to further investment in the gaming space. This is a significant improvement from a 2021 CNBC report that indicated less than 1% of subscribers were engaging with Netflix's games. However, in October 2024, the company scaled back its gaming ambitions by shutting down its AAA studio, which was led by former developers from Overwatch, Halo, and God of War. Additionally, recent cuts have affected Night School Studio, the developer of Oxenfree, which Netflix acquired in 2021.

As Netflix continues to pivot away from traditional console gaming, it anticipates a market increasingly uninterested in such hardware. Meanwhile, Sony and Microsoft are expected to release new consoles like the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox, respectively. Nintendo, on the other hand, is on the cusp of unveiling the Switch 2, with a dedicated Direct presentation scheduled for next week, where fans eagerly await details on features, release dates, and pre-order information.