Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Netflix Acquires Ready Player Me to Bring Cross‑Game Avatar Tech In‑House

The Estonian team’s tools will be folded into Netflix’s gaming push, with Ready Player Me’s public platform shutting down on January 31, 2026.

Overview

  • Financial terms were not disclosed, and Netflix has not announced when or where the avatar technology will appear in its games.
  • Around 20 Ready Player Me employees will join Netflix, with CTO and co‑founder Rainer Selvet the only founder moving over.
  • Ready Player Me’s services used by thousands of developers, including the PlayerZero avatar creator, will go offline on January 31, 2026.
  • CEO Timmu Tõke said the team will support Netflix’s gaming strategy with tech designed to let players carry identities across titles.
  • The move aligns with Netflix’s shift away from in‑house AAA development toward integrating external tech and teams, after the startup raised about $72 million including from a16z.