WB Games’ future has ben in doubt for a while at this point. It was reported in May of last year that with Warner Media and Discovery merging, WB Games would be “getting broken up”, with different studios being up for sale. Since then, there hasn’t been much confirmation as to the fate of the company’s gaming arm one way or another, but it seems the story still hasn’t died down.
Journalist Imran Khan of Fanbyte recently took to Twitter and stated that he’s been “hearing a decent bit of chatter this week” that suggests Warner Bros. is looking to sell its game development studios to potential suitors in the industry, with EA, Take-Two, Microsoft, Sony, Tencent, NetEase, and PUBG Corp. being among the “interested parties”. Interestingly, while previous reports had suggested that only the studios would be sold off, Khan says that WB is now looking to sell licenses of its IPs as well.
WB Games owns a number of major studios, including TT Games (the developer of the LEGO games), Rocksteady (currently working on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League), WB Games Montreal (developing Gotham Knights), Avalanche Software (developing Hogwarts Legacy), Monolith Productions (developing Wonder Woman), and NetherRealm Studios (rumoured to be working on Mortal Kombat 12).
Interestingly, even back in 2020, predating the Warner and Discovery merger, it was reported that WB’s parent company AT&T was looking to shop its studios around, and many of the names of the interested parties mentioned above were mentioned back then as well. Not long afterward, reports claimed that the company ultimately decided against any sales.
In July, Warner Bros. provided assurances that contrary to report, NetherRealm Studios and TT Games weren’t for sale, while earlier this year, it was reported that WB Games was looking to bolster its output of DC-licensed games.
Interested parties include EA, Take-Two, Microsoft, Sony, Tencent, Netease, and PUBG Corp. WBD wants to sell studios and license IP, supposedly.
— Imran Khan (@imranzomg) April 29, 2022
