“Are eight year-olds and ten year-olds dreaming of owning a PlayStation 6?”
This, he says, is less about the console model and more about phone-controlled party games.
The latter, as Tascan sees it, is Netflix’s attempt at Wii-style industry “disruption”.
“I love the Wii,” he told The Game Business.
“I am very vigorous about lowering friction and eliminating it if we can.
I see that the subscription is friction as well.
Maybe good friction because it makes business sense…
But the other friction is having enough controllers for family.
Having a piece of hardware that might be expensive…
Waiting for a game to download… As such, it’s perhaps not surprising to hear Tascan’s dismissal of the classic console model.
“Look at the younger generation.
Are eight year-olds and 10 year-olds dreaming of owning a PlayStation 6?
I am not sure.
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.”
“There is a place for them, for sure.
The answer to that question is, apparently, party games.
Whether you’re alone, or with two people, or 20 people, why not?
Can we do something really engaging?”
The communication between the phone and the TV.
“We have some very special competitive advantages,” Tascan added.
“We’ve just scratched the surface.
For instance, for Squid Game, you watch the show and you unlock some currency in the game.
But that’s just the beginning.
We have a lot of things that we can imagine and reimagine.”
When I look at these two leaders in particular…
I believe in their full commitment.”
