Netflix Just Made Another Big Gaming Move

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As Netflix explores a potential purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, it’s also expanding its own gaming efforts by buying a gaming startup.

Netflix has acquired Ready Player Me, an Estonian company specializing in technology that lets players use the same avatars across multiple games. The financial details of the deal haven’t been disclosed.

We’ve always wanted to let people use the same avatars and online identities across different games and virtual worlds. For a long time, we’ve been working independently to achieve this. Now, I’m thrilled that the Ready Player Me team is joining Netflix. This will allow us to expand our technology and skills to reach a global audience and help build Netflix’s exciting future in gaming, according to CEO Timmu Tõke.

Netflix has acquired the team behind Ready Player Me, bringing 20 people onboard. However, only one leader, Chief Technology Officer Rainer Selvet, will be directly joining Netflix. Many details about the acquisition remain unclear, including when we’ll see gaming avatars on Netflix and which games or shows will support them.

Following the acquisition, Ready Player Me has announced it will discontinue its services, including its avatar creation tool, PlayerZero, on January 31, 2026.

Ready Player Me provides developers with avatar solutions that can be used in various games and virtual worlds. Recognizing that each game has unique technical requirements and artistic styles, they offer tools to ensure compatibility across different platforms and engines. Their clients include major companies like Ubisoft, Lenovo, and Nvidia.

As a Netflix fan, I’ve been following their move into gaming, and it’s been interesting to see how they’re figuring things out. They always said they were testing the waters with games, and honestly, it’s shown! They’ve scaled back their big, ambitious AAA game plans and are now really concentrating on mobile games and those fun party games you can play with friends. But the good news is, they recently announced they’re really going to push things forward with gaming, so I’m excited to see what they come up with next!

Netflix and Paramount are both vying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Netflix has agreed to a deal for many of Warner Bros. Discovery’s properties, like its gaming division, but not the whole company. Paramount, however, is making a direct offer to Warner Bros. Discovery’s shareholders to buy the entire company for a higher price.

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2025-12-22 17:09