With Warner Bros owning some of the biggest franchises in the world, it makes sense to capitalize on this. These titles include Harry Potter, Justice League, and Batman to name some. While some of these franchises have debuted in the world of gaming, that is not the case for all of them. Recently, the announcement regarding their uneven gaming performance saw potential for expansion. So, what does this mean for Warner Bros?
Why Warner Bros Made This Decision
Warner Bros CEO, David Zaslav, and global streaming President JB Perrette expanded on the strategic value of gaming to the company. Looking to expand in the Free-to-Play space, Zaslav and Perrette want to leverage their eleven studios. Simultaneously, the executives admit that other developers are also interested in the gaming IP. As such, this is now something the company seems to be actively exploring.
The executives express how difficult it is to compete against newly released franchises in the industry. And mention how acquiring Player First has significantly impacted their capabilities. Furthermore, Zaslav attributes Hogwarts Legacy’s success to its immersive gaming experience. “You go into Hogwarts Legacy to play the game. You immediately become part of that world.” This is a great example of what sets gaming apart from TV and film.
Warner Bros Franchises on Offer
Warner Bros is home to some of the biggest and most popular film franchises in the world. And it did not take long for these franchises to expand into the gaming world. CEO, David Zaslav, and global streaming President JB Perrette announced a possible expansion. Looking at their current IP, the executives acknowledge that they can grow beyond the 11 current developers. This begs the question of which franchises are most likely to get licensed to third-party developers.
Justice League & Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was the cause of Warner Bros’ uneven performance. The game reduced the company’s Year-over-Year gaming revenue by 41%. Of course, this is not a good look in comparison to the Hogwarts Legacy’s success in 2023. Additionally, after partnering with Player First Games, MultiVersus was a hit as well. It would make sense for Warner Bros to explore where third-party developers could bring this franchise.
Although Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been a long time coming, there are a few reasons why the game failed. Many fans have complained about the poor RPG mechanics and lack of freedom to explore the in-game universe. Furthermore, the story ended up disappointing many DC gaming fans with its lazy writing.
However, one of the bigger elements of failure was the implementation of a battle pass. With an already hefty price of $69 (Steam) to $77 (Xbox), the game tries to further monetize with said pass. Of course, there are some pros, including its beautiful animation. But ultimately, the game landed far below par for many, including Warner Bros, losing the company $200 million in total.
Harry Potter
Although off to a bumpy start, Hogwarts Legacy ended up selling 22 million copies in 2023. The game topped Call of Duty in terms of sales, which is not an easy feat. Furthermore, Zaslav and Perrette both want to see their game franchises grow in the Free-to-Play spaces. This was a large part of why Warner Bros partnered up with Player First Games. Ultimately, the world of Harry Potter still has many elements to explore.
Game of Thrones
While there are quite a few Game of Thrones games, the franchise still holds potential. With the massive world-building potential, many games have taken the RPG route. While it works well with the series, there are countless other opportunities. It would make sense for Warner Bros to offer up licensing for one of the best series in TV history.
Mad Max
Mad Max is another franchise that holds great video game potential. In terms of Action, this franchise has much to explore. With the 2015 video game still being a fan-favorite today, there is no reason why Warner Bros would refuse. The Mad Max game holds a 69% score on Metacritic and sold over 1.8 million copies.
What Does This Mean for Warner Bros?
Going forward, this announcement opens up many doors for the company. Perrette has expressed his desire for Warner Bros to grow in the gaming market. The President labeled it as a ‘unique area in media’ that is always growing in time spent, engagement, and revenue. Furthermore, Perrette acknowledges the franchises held by Warner Bros are in high demand. Naturally, taking advantage of this could result in a huge performance hike for the company.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Warner Bros could see a large growth in their interactive entertainment. With many popular franchises at their disposal, including the above-mentioned and more, it is a smart choice. Furthermore, this could see some interesting developments in the gaming world, as the potential is endless.
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