The planned acquisition of Warner Bros by Netflix raises critical questions about the future of the company’s gaming studios.
Hollywood is on the brink of major change. Streaming giant Netflix is planning to acquire Warner Bros and if the deal goes through, its impact will extend far beyond the film industry.
Netflix And Warner Bros: A Deal With Far Reaching Consequences
Netflix wants to acquire Hollywood heavyweight Warner Bros for just under 83 billion dollars. With this deal the streaming provider aims to take its next big step and expand its catalog of content. Warner Bros owns the rights to some of the most famous films and series in the world, including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and the DC universe. The company also includes the channel HBO and the streaming service HBO Max, which both enjoy a large and loyal audience, especially in the United States.
For Netflix this purchase would be a significant step because the company would secure numerous franchises that have millions of fans around the world. At the same time Netflix would become less dependent on external licensors. It is clear that such an acquisition would also bring profound changes for Warner Bros, yet how those changes might look remains uncertain at this point.
The deal is not officially finalized yet, but within Netflix there is confidence that it will ultimately be approved. Warner Bros however is not just a film company, as it also has a significant presence in the gaming industry. This means that this sector would naturally be affected as well.
How Important Are Warner Bros Games For Netflix?
A division of Warner Bros that according to Netflix was not even factored into the valuation of the deal is the studio's gaming segment. Apparently Netflix does not see much potential in Warner Bros AAA gaming studios. This may come as a surprise considering that they include industry heavyweights like Mortal Kombat, the Arkham franchise, the Lego games and the 2023 megahit Hogwarts Legacy.To understand this assessment one has to look at Netflix's perspective. The streaming service has made several attempts in the past to gain a foothold in AAA gaming but without success. After multiple setbacks Netflix ultimately decided to focus entirely on mobile gaming.
When one keeps this series of failures in mind the cautious assessment of the gaming division seems understandable. What this could mean for the Warner Bros studios is still unclear, yet the current trajectory does not point toward a positive outcome. It is possible that the studios would be steered more toward mobile projects or even shut down entirely. For now all of this remains speculation. How the gaming division of Warner Bros will continue under Netflix is something only the future can reveal.
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