News Summary

Netflix has announced the acquisition of Ready Player Me, an Estonia-based startup specializing in avatar creation for gaming. The acquisition is part of Netflix’s strategy to enhance its gaming offerings by integrating avatar creation tools that enable subscribers to carry their personas across different games. Ready Player Me, backed by venture capital from notable investors including a16z and the co-founders of Roblox and Twitch, will see its team, including founders Rainer Selvet, Haver Järveoja, Kaspar Tiri, and Timmu Tõke, join Netflix. The startup will wind down its services by January 31, 2026. This move aligns with Netflix’s broader shift in gaming strategy, which involves expanding its gaming lineup for TV and focusing on more interactive and mainstream titles.