Angry Birds developer seeks investors for its 'Netflix of Games' service
The next success for the company behind Angry Birds could be two-fold: convincing the US public they should buy a 5G mobile phone from Sprint Corp., and developing the world’s biggest video-game streaming platform in the process. Rovio Entertainment Oyj is in talks with “several” investors to take a stake in its subsidiary Hatch -- a “ Netflix for games ” platform that Sprint will use to showcase what its high-speed 5G handsets can do when it opens its new network in May. But Rovio Chief Executive Officer Kati Levoranta also needs new investors to buy into her vision for three-year-old Hatch, on which Rovio has already spent about 17 million euros ($19 million), to help it build up its library of games from developers such as Ubisoft and Sega. “ The Hatch service is brilliant for use with 5G, and many of our strategic partners are looking for services that demonstrate how 5G works and the benefits it brings,” Levoranta said in an interview at the company’s seaside headqu...