Netflix has a new gaming boss after hiring former Epic exec

There’s a new name in charge of Netflix’s ongoing gaming efforts. As Variety reports, the streamer has hired Alain Tascan as the new president of its gaming division, after he previously served as executive VP of game development at Fortnite maker Epic Games. The news comes as the game division’s former boss, Mike Verdu, moved into a different role at Netflix focused on a new team “on the cutting edge of game innovation.”

In his previous role at Epic, which he held since 2018, Tascan was in charge of the company’s first-party output, which included not only Fortnite and its various modes like Lego Fortnite but also other live-service games like Rocket League and Fall Guys. In a statement, Tascan explained that he took the role at the streamer because “I firmly believe that Netflix is uniquely positioned to redefine the future of gaming.”

Though it has yet to become a major part of Netflix’s business, the company has dabbled in games since 2021, with a growing library of titles available to subscribers via mobile. More recently, the company has shifted somewhat to focus on games that are connected to its most popular shows; the next season of Emily in Paris, for instance, will premiere on August 15th, alongside the launch of a tie-in game. More recently, the company committed to launching a new game every month.

Tascan’s hiring could help kick-start some of Netflix’s more ambitious gaming plans, which include a push into blockbuster gaming as well as titles playable on TVs and in the cloud.