Not content with being the most dominant name in streaming, Netflix has repeatedly shown interest in expanding its gaming footprint. The company has added more games playable on its mobile app, and recently inked a deal with Life is Strange developer Don’t Nod. And now a major opportunity has presented itself to the streaming giant, which could give it some of the most recognized IPs in gaming. Warner Brothers Discovery is for sale, and Netflix could be a potential buyer.
Earlier this week, Warner Brothers Discovery announced they were opening bids to purchase the company. This comes after a potential deal between WB and Paramount fell through, during which the former received unsolicited offers from parties looking to buy the company. In the wake of this, Deadline reports Netflix has hired a financial advisory firm to help evaluate a purchase.
What Does This Mean for WB Games?
In the event of a purchase, not every studio or property under Warner Brothers could make its way to Netflix. The post-purchase period will probably see reorganization, and potentially the sale of individual properties under the WB umbrella. But if Netflix ends up being the buyer, it would give them some of the most valuable IPs across film and gaming. Harry Potter, DC, Mortal Kombat, and Shadow of Mordor are just a handful of names to be included in a purchase. And while not every WB game sells gangbusters (*cough* Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League *cough*), more often than not the games are highly profitable. Hogwarts Legacy alone has sold 34 million copies since launch, so it’s no wonder companies are lining up to get their hands on WB’s catalog.
Naturally, the purchase would include the studios behind these games, including Avalanche, Rocksteady, and NetherRealm. Whether they would remain separate from Netflix under a WB Games umbrella, or integrated into Netflix Games is unclear. The streaming company has a notoriously laissez-faire attitude towards what content ends up on their platform, for better or worse. For employees of game studios under WB, that could mean Netflix will be less likely to engage in mass layoffs following a purchase. But with multiple competing offers, it’ll all come down to who has the deepest pockets.
Sourced from Insider Gaming. For more coverage, check out our other games section.
