Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is drawing attention from several established companies in gaming, including Microsoft and Blizzard.
Warner Bros. Games (also known as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) has quickly become the center of attention in the video game industry, as various heavy-hitters are looking to acquire the business for themselves.
Among the names reportedly looking to make a bid are tech giant Microsoft, Grand Theft Auto developer and publisher Take-Two Interactive Software, Diablo creator Activision Blizzard, and industry veteran Electronic Arts.
Report: Microsoft, Take-Two, EA, and Activision interested in Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment acquisition https://t.co/5sUtVa2sC7 pic.twitter.com/TYewKxN848
— Gematsu (@gematsucom) July 6, 2020
The future of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
While the competition readies their wallets for a potential offer, AT&T—Warner Bros.’s parent company—has yet to make a decision as to whether or not they’re ready to let go of their gaming arm just yet, according to the online publication The Information.
The fact that the communications company is US$154 billion[AU$221.9 billion] in debt, however, gives them that much more of an incentive to sell off the business, as LionTree is allegedly assisting AT&T in looking for possible takers.
Studios owned by WB Games
What makes WB Games such a hot commodity isn’t just the Warner Bros. name, but the slew of successful studios it has under its belt.
During the past 16 years since its foundation, the gaming division managed to amass a number of studios, including TT Games, Rocksteady Studios, Monolith Productions, Avalanche Software, and NetherRealm Studios.
While this could prove to be one heck of an acquisition, it’s likely that the deal will only be for the studios under Warner Bros. Games, and not their Intellectual Properties(IPs).
Looks like Microsoft has entered the bidding war to purchase WB Games. They'd get these studios, but NOT the IP like Batman, Harry Potter ect pic.twitter.com/FrxH8bken8
— The CrapGamer (@The_CrapGamer) July 6, 2020
NetherRealm Studios
One of the more eye-catching aspects of the purchase would be acquiring NetherRealm Studios, helmed by industry veteran Ed Boon—co-creator of the widely popular Mortal Kombat series.
The Chicago-based studio is known for its work on all Mortal Kombat entries from 2011 until the present, as well as the two Injustice titles. NetherRealm also developed Batman: Arkham City Lockdown and Batman: Arkham Origins, both mobile games.
When universes collide! Just say the word. #SHAZAM #MK11 pic.twitter.com/tpqsmHNmnz
— NetherRealm (@NetherRealm) April 4, 2019
Rocksteady Studios
Rocksteady Studios Limited is a British video game development studio that initially partnered up with Eidos Interactive before eventually being acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Despite the studio’s first game—Urban Chaos: Riot Response—being met with a lukewarm reception from fans and critics, Rocksteady went on to develop Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight, all three of which received glowing reviews and are considered by some as the greatest Batman games ever released.
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Batman: Arkham Knight launch. Many thanks to each and every one of our crime fighting fans for keeping Gotham safe through the years. pic.twitter.com/hVCQ9mCwIe
— Rocksteady Studios (@RocksteadyGames) June 23, 2020
It’ll be interesting to see which video game company manages to pick up Warner Bros. Gaming, if AT&T eventually decides on selling. The thought of Microsoft bolstering their upcoming Xbox catalog with NetherRealm and Rocksteady studios would send shivers down Sony’s spine.
Featured image courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr