Netflix is shaking up its gaming strategy with a new president at the helm. Alain Tascan, former executive VP of game development at Epic Games, has taken the reins and is implementing a more intentional approach to gaming. Since its gaming debut in 2021, Netflix has launched a wide range of titles, from indie darlings to blockbuster ports, but the strategy has been criticized for being scattershot.

Tascan's plan is to focus on four key categories: narrative games, multiplayer party games, games aimed at kids, and "mainstream" releases with huge audience potential. This strategy is reminiscent of Netflix's early days of original programming, where it started with a few series and eventually expanded to a vast range of shows and movies. Tascan believes that by focusing on these four categories, Netflix can eventually become a one-stop shop for gamers, offering a broad range of titles that appeal to its existing audience and potential new subscribers.

The new strategy also means scaling back in some areas. Netflix has shut down an internal studio focused on AAA titles, and its indie game publishing efforts on mobile will become a smaller part of the overall plan. Tascan emphasized that everything has to fit with the overall strategy, and if an indie game fits one of the four categories, Netflix will pursue it.

Tascan's ultimate goal is to make Netflix's gaming efforts platform agnostic, allowing users to play games instantly on any device. He believes this future is achievable within the next five years, citing improvements in streaming technology, an audience that expects seamless experiences across devices, and Netflix's growing global audience. To achieve this, Netflix will be launching its first TV-focused games by the end of the year, which will be playable via smart TV and controlled via smartphone, eliminating the need for game controllers.

Tascan is also ambitious about creating gaming experiences that have a significant impact on popular culture, similar to the Travis Scott concert in Fortnite. He hopes that some of the new games launching by the end of the year will create a similar moment, taking players by surprise and permeating pop culture in a way that games rarely do.

Netflix's revamped gaming strategy is a significant shift in its approach to the gaming industry. With Tascan at the helm, the company is poised to make a more focused and intentional push into the gaming space, one that could potentially change the way we experience games.