We are very excited to share that Netflix has just announced its acquisition of Ready Player Me. This acquisition is immediately seen as central to their strategy to supercharge their gaming offerings. This move comes on the heels of Mike Verdu’s departure. Until recently, he was Netflix’s Vice President of Games. When Verdu left the company about seven months later, it raised questions about the future of Netflix’s gaming ambitions.
Ready Player Me, founded by Timmu Tõke, Haver Järveoja, and Kaspar Tiri, has garnered significant attention in the gaming industry, raising $72 million in venture funding. Players create unique avatars on the platform to use within the ecosystem of different games and experiences. As part of the acquisition, Ready Player Me will sunset its existing service by January 31, 2026. Aligning their strategy and priorities to this new goal will enable them to align and more deeply integrate their technology into Netflix’s gaming ecosystem.
Timmu Tõke, co-founder and CEO of Ready Player Me, shared their excitement over the merger.
“We’ve been on an independent path to make that vision a reality for a long time. I’m now very excited for the Ready Player Me team to join Netflix to scale our tech and expertise to a global audience and contribute to the exciting vision Netflix has for gaming.” – Timmu Tõke
This acquisition aligns with Netflix’s broader strategy to strengthen its gaming portfolio under the leadership of Alain Tascan, who has spearheaded the company’s expansion into interactive entertainment. Since Verdu’s departure, Tascan has focused on enhancing Netflix’s gaming lineup for television and mobile devices, including the recent launch of a series of party games.
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Netflix is looking to gobble up gaming studios and IP at a furious pace. With each move, their aim is to hunker down and shape a universal gaming experience that speaks volumes to their audience. Ready Player Me integration will enhance cross-game and cross-platform personalization in Netflix’s gaming portfolio. Today, players come to expect to connect with their avatars easily on any platform.