Genies Hires Former Netflix Games Creative Director to Head Games Studio

Genies, a leading provider of social avatars, has recently appointed Andrew Chambers, former Netflix Games creative director, as the head of its games studio. With over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry, Chambers will oversee the deployment of Genies’ immersive and interoperable digital identity layer for the internet. This move aligns with Genies’ mission to create an “open-source Roblox model,” where interactive experiences are interoperable across different platforms.

By offering interoperability, Genies aims to enable users to invest in and build their persistent digital identity, which they believe will become the next username of the internet. This will be crucial for partners seeking to create interactive and immersive digital experiences centered around user-generated content. Chambers’ expertise and experience in top gaming studios such as Blizzard Entertainment and Phoenix Labs, as well as his role at Netflix Games, make him a valuable addition to Genies’ team.

Genies has already made significant strides in building its avatar and interoperable frameworks. These tools allow for limitless compatibility and customization, empowering developers, artists, creators, companies, and platforms to create their own unique experiences and universes. The company has identified two core components of its interoperable identity layer: visual interoperability and behavioral interoperability.

Visual interoperability refers to how a user’s avatar looks, and Genies’ proprietary auto-rigging technology and avatar framework enable compatibility and customization across digital fashion, objects, and avatars. On the other hand, behavioral interoperability is defined by a user’s personality, which is shaped by Genies’ unique traits framework. This framework utilizes metadata to capture a user’s behavior across different experiences, allowing developers to tailor experiences to each player’s distinct characteristics.

Genies’ success can be attributed to its early adoption by cultural icons like Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Cardi B, Migos, and DJ Khaled. These partnerships have paved the way for limitless compatibility and customization, as Genies aims to provide avatars for everyone. The company has raised $200 million in funding from investors such as Silver Lake, BOND, NEA, and Bob Iger.

Overall, Genies’ partnership with Andrew Chambers and its commitment to interoperability and customization in the digital identity space position it as a key player in the gaming industry. With its suite of open-source tools and technologies, Genies empowers developers, artists, and companies to create unique avatar experiences and platforms. As the world becomes increasingly immersive, Genies’ vision of an interoperable internet identity layer will revolutionize the way we engage with digital content.