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Netflix has appointed Alain Tascan, former Epic Games EVP of development, to lead its games division.
According to a report by Variety, Tascan has assumed the position of games president at the streaming service giant.
He takes over from the previous VP of games at Netflix, Mike Verdu, who has transitioned into a new role focusing on game innovation as of last month. Tascan will be reporting directly to Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters.
During his time at Epic Games, Tascan led first-party development for popular titles such as Fortnite, LEGO Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys. His extensive experience in the industry includes roles as vice chairman at Funcom, VP and GM at EA Montreal, and VP of production at Ubisoft.
New Leadership
“With over 30 years of experience in global video game development, production, licensing, and studio building, Alain Tascan brings a wealth of knowledge to Netflix,” stated Netflix co-CEO Gregory Peters.
“His passion for creating outstanding games and his track record of taking innovative creative risks are qualities that make him an ideal leader for Netflix Games. We are excited to have him on board.”
Tascan remarked, “Netflix has consistently shown its ability to innovate and capture audiences globally in the rapidly evolving entertainment landscape. I am excited and privileged to continue the excellent work of the talented games team at Netflix, and I am confident that Netflix is uniquely positioned to shape the future of gaming.”
Shifting Strategy?
With Tascan now at the helm, it remains to be seen if Netflix will adjust its current strategy for its games division.
In a recent investor call, co-CEO Peters mentioned that the company saw a threefold increase in game engagement last year, though specific usage data was not provided.
“It’s important to note that the impact of games on our overall business, at our current scale, is still relatively small,” Peters emphasized. “Our investment in games, compared to our total content spending, remains proportionately limited. We are carefully managing the growth of our investment alongside the growth of its business impact, ensuring a balanced approach.”
Netflix’s current approach includes bolstering internal development through acquisitions of studios like Next Games and Spry Fox.
The platform has also acquired titles such as the GTA trilogy Definitive Edition, comprising GTA 3, GTA: San Andreas, and GTA: Vice City. Additionally, Netflix is expanding its Netflix Stories collection, which features interactive fiction titles based on its popular TV series.
We recently chatted with Netflix Stories director of story Sarah Springwater about the company’s use of interactive fiction to engage with existing fans and attract new ones.
Last month, PocketGamer.biz spoke with VP of External Games Leanne Loombe about Netflix’s game plans and why it remains a strategic focus for the company in the long term.
