With the recent news that Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting up into two separate, publicly-traded entities, it is no surprise that a flurry of developments has followed. Among the biggest of these is the decision to restructure Warner Bros. Games, which has published some of the biggest and best-received video games of the past two decades.
This doesn’t mean that Warner Bros. Games is going to experience a split of its own, but it does mean that the way the publisher approaches gaming and the sort of titles they put out will be wildly different from what fans have come to expect from it. Of course, understanding the implications of the latest announcement requires an understanding of where Warner Bros. Games started, as well as where their corporate trajectory has taken them in the years since.
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Warner Bros. Games and the Warner Bros. Discovery Split, Explained
Warner Bros. Discovery Splitting Up Isn’t What Many Fans Think
In early June, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery would be split in two. Rather than breaking the company back into Warner Bros. and Discovery, however, the decision was made to break the company up into one entity dedicated to streaming content and various studios, while the other focuses on traditional television productions.
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Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who will be taking charge of the former, said at the time, “By operating as two distinct and optimized companies in the future, we are empowering these iconic brands with the sharper focus and strategic flexibility they need to compete most effectively in today’s evolving media landscape.” On the surface, this sounds like a positive sentiment, yet the lack of any real details regarding how exactly the shift will provide “sharper focus and strategic flexibility” leaves fans wanting, especially because both companies are still set to be working in concert with one another.
While Warner Bros. Games seems to still be operating as a largely independent division within Warner Bros. Discovery, it officially falls under the purview of Zaslav’s streaming and studios company. As such, Warner Bros. Games will obviously still be overseen by outside executives, the very same executives behind the decision to refocus the publisher’s efforts around the biggest properties, with the people who know them best leading the charge.
What the Recent Restructuring Means for Warner Bros. Games
Warner Bros. Games’ Restructuring Follows Numerous Studio Closures
Last week, it was announced that Warner Bros. Games had promoted Warner Bros. Games Montréal studio head Yves Lachance to senior VP with oversight of both the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones franchises. The company also promoted NetherRealm Studio head Shaun Himmerick to senior VP with oversight of all DC tie-in games and Mortal Kombat titles, and promoted Warner Bros. Games New York studio head Steven Flenory to a senior VP position with oversight of game publishing technology, quality assurance, user research, and other technology and services. These promotions came alongside the announcement that Warner Bros. Games will be focusing its efforts on games within just a handful of titles.
“Our company is home to some of the biggest franchises in the world, and we are optimizing our team structure to develop long-term franchise roadmaps to delight players and fans of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat and DC games,” said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO of global streaming & games JB Perrette. “We are very fortunate to have a strong stable of development and technology talent, and Yves, Shaun and Steven are respected leaders with excellent track records in their areas of expertise. I’m looking forward to working closely with them and the team as we work to make the best games possible for our key franchises.”
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On the surface, this sounds like players will be getting more games in their favorite franchises, although that isn’t necessarily the case. The news of Warner Bros. Games restructuring comes hot on the heels of the closures of numerous studios this year, including Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. That being the case, fans can likely take these latest statements as a sign that Warner Bros.
Games will ultimately be publishing fewer titles every year. At the same time, this all points toward an active effort to develop more of those games in-house, which would mean that the few titles Warner Bros. Games does publish will consist of a greater number of AAA titles than in previous years. Whether that proves to be a move gamers approve of remains to be seen, but with the continued popularity of indie titles and the rising cost of major releases, it is hard to imagine this decision will usher in a new heyday for Warner Bros. Games.
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Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns
- Released
- September 24, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Base Game
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Interactive
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
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Hogwarts Legacy
Systems
- Released
- February 10, 2023
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
