Last month, news broke that AT&T may be putting one of Time Warner’s gaming division, otherwise known asWarner Bros. Interactive, up for sale. Despite the popularity of WB Games, which include theBatman Arkham series, Injustice, Mortal Kombat, and more, AT&T has a cumulative total of about $165 billion in debt from when it purchased Time Warner. Investors are calling for sales of non-core assets—this sale would net the company upwards of $4 billion alone—but it’s worth noting a deal like his could take months at least.
The deal’s specifics are still unknown, and AT&T could retain some commercial licensing agreements that still earn money from IP used. On the other hand, another deal could be reached to eliminate this altogether, but ultimately, it’s far too soon to understand the fine print of the deal. There has to be something about creating games out ofWarner Bros.properties, nonetheless.
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Big names like Microsoft,EA, Activision, and Take-Two have expressed interest, according to reports, and while it’s still a numbers game, the purchase would be big for any number of companies. Microsoft saw huge growth through a variety of purchase in the past two years, but this would indubitably be the biggest. It would severely change the next-gen landscape should Microsoft be the one to purchase Warner Bros. Interactive.
What Microsoft Would Get From This Purchase
The question becomes what Microsoft would get out of the purchase. Again, fine print is months away from being available, but Warner Bros. Interactive includes TT Games, Rocksteady Studios, NetherRealm Studios, Monolith Productions, WB Games Boston,Avalanche Software, WB Games Montreal, and WB Games San Francisco. While AT&T could set up some deal to retain some profits from the IP, it would be available for use through these studios, through the wide WB Games branch, and for whatever Microsoft wished to pursue with it.
As it stands, TT Games is known for the development ofLegogames, Rocksteady is known for its work on theBatman Arkhamseries and is reportedly working on aSuicide Squadgame, and NetherRealm Studios is iconic for its work on theMortal KombatandInjusticefighting games series. Monolith Productions worked on theF.E.A.Rseries andMiddle-Earthseries, WB Games Boston has a relatively small set-up, Avalanche Software has down a lot of work on Disney games but is also reportedly working on the upcomingHarry Potter RPG, WB Games Montreal worked onArkham Originsand is currently working on the next game (by reports), and San Francisco is another small studio that has put out a couple of mobile games.
In short, it’s a lot. These are the biggest names and the most likely to be shaken up by a purchase of WB Games, but there would be a ton more that Microsoft could run with as well.
What This Means for Xbox Series X
There’s two big caveats to what this means for the Xbox Series X, and that’s time and competition. The deal could finish up before the end of 2020, it could carry on well over into 2021, or the deal may go to another company or may not happen at all. Assuming it does, then down the road it means bigexclusives for the Xbox Series X.
Right now, there’s some big WB projects circulating the rumor mill.Batmanis supposed to be announced next month, with aHarry Potter RPGalso releasing next year. This likely means neither of these will be exclusive; after all, according to the same rumor,Batmanis still dropping this year.Harry Potter RPG,despite releasing next year, is still in active development and would likely launch on all platforms. It’s like the Obsidian Entertainment acquisition; because of the timing,Outer Worldsstill released on PS4.Outer Worlds 2,if it were to ever happen, isn’t likely to do that.
As unlikely as these games being exclusive is, the follow-up to this newBatmanand perhaps even theHarry Potter RPGwould indeed be exclusives. Then, there’s the possibility of content like the eventualMortal Kombat 12(or a new reboot thereof) andInjustice 3being console exclusive to Xbox Series X. The short term would still not likely have a lot of pay off, but there’s likely other properties in the work or properties that could be started soon that will eventually pay off early-to-midway through the Xbox Series X lifecycle.
There’s a lot of potential for the company that purchases Warner Bros Interactive, and if it’s Microsoft, it’s going to be a big change to the new generation. Already there’s talk of aFableannouncement at the Xbox Series X even, the potential ofXbox Live online multiplayer becoming free, and a slew of new IP and exclusives. In short, a lot of the right moves at the right time means the Xbox Series X generation may already be in a better position than the Xbox One when it launched.
