Netflix has acquired Estonia-based gaming startup Ready Player Me, which develops technology for creating cross-platform gaming avatars, as part of its broader push into gaming. The deal involves integrating Ready Player Me's team and technology into Netflix, with plans to expand avatar use across its gaming offerings, although specific titles and timelines remain unclear. The acquisition will lead to the closure of Ready Player Me's services in 2026, and Netflix continues to explore various gaming strategies, including a recent proposed buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Apple's Vision Pro now offers 3D 'Spatial Personas', which are realistic virtual avatars driven by the headset's tracking sensors and appear in shared spatial context, allowing users to interact in a more immersive way. Developers can utilize three positioning templates for Spatial Personas, and apps like Apple TV+ and Freeform support this feature for shared experiences. The update is included in visionOS 1.1 and can be activated by selecting 'Spatial' during a FaceTime call.
KISS has unveiled their virtual avatars at their final farewell tour performance, signaling a "new era" for the band. The avatars, created by Pophouse Entertainment with help from Industrial Light & Magic, will be used to produce "immersive, avatar-powered" concerts. Unlike ABBA Voyage, KISS's shows will be fully pre-recorded with no live music. The success of ABBA Voyage, which made $2 million per week, has inspired other legacy acts to explore virtual live shows.
