Warner Bros Aims to Transform Major Franchises into Live-Service Games
Warner Bros aims to revolutionize its iconic franchises by transforming them into long-term live-service games, as disclosed by a company executive This strategic move highlights their commitment to extending support and enhancing player experiences for these beloved titles
Article Key Points
Warner Bros. plans to turn its popular franchises into live services, aiming to extend game support for three to four years and generate more post-purchase revenue.
Recent titles such as Mortal Kombat 1 and Hogwarts Legacy have achieved remarkable success, prompting WB to actively pursue additional profit growth through renowned franchises. However, the ultimate triumph of these games hinges on the demand of the audience, considering that certain titles in this genre have struggled to sustain a dedicated player community.
Warner Bros. is currently planning to transform its most popular franchises into live services, as disclosed during the company's latest quarterly earnings call. With recent successes like Mortal Kombat 1 receiving critical acclaim and strong sales, WB aims to leverage this popularity to support their games for an extended period.
2023 has proven to be a remarkable year for Warner Bros.'s gaming division. Hogwarts Legacy, released in February, emerged as one of the best-selling games of the year and continues to outsell newer releases months after its initial launch. In addition, Mortal Kombat 1 has already sold nearly 3 million units within two months of its release, showcasing impressive performance. WB now seeks opportunities to further enhance profitability by expanding their famous franchises.
WB Discovery president David Zaslav discussed the gaming division during the recent Warner Bros. quarterly earnings call, emphasizing the company's renewed focus on live services, multiplatform availability, and free-to-play (F2P) games. Zaslav outlined the company's strategy to extend game support for a duration of three to four years, aiming to drive increased audience engagement and generate higher post-purchase revenue. Moving forward, Warner Bros. intends to transform its major franchises, shifting away from traditional console and PC releases with limited schedules, and instead embracing always-on gameplay through live services, multiplatform accessibility, and free-to-play expansions. The ultimate objective is to have a larger player base spending more time on various platforms.
Warner Bros. aims to transform its major franchises by expanding beyond consoles and PCs, adopting a more frequent release schedule, and incorporating always-on gameplay, live services, and free-to-play extensions. The objective is to increase player engagement across multiple platforms. However, given the current trend in the gaming industry, where numerous companies are pursuing live services, it is important to note that success in this space is not guaranteed. Some games, like Apex Legends Mobile and Battlefield Mobile, have already ceased operation in 2023, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Warner Bros.' approach.
Warner Bros. is currently focusing on developing its live service offerings for the future. Meanwhile, its existing games are still performing strongly, with one of its recent successes, Hogwarts Legacy, set to be released for the Switch in the near future. Given the stability of the game's ports on the PS4 and Xbox One, the Switch version is anticipated to be yet another impressive release.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of Warner Bros., I am thrilled to hear about their plans to transform their major franchises into live-service games. This move shows that the company is committed to supporting its games for the long term and providing players with new content and experiences on a regular basis. I am particularly excited about the potential for live-service games in the Harry Potter and DC Comics franchises. These franchises have incredibly passionate fan bases, and I believe that live-service games could provide a great way to keep these fans engaged with the worlds they love.
However, I am also aware that live-service games can be a risky proposition. They require a significant investment of resources and time, and there is no guarantee that they will be successful. I hope that Warner Bros. is able to execute on its plans and deliver high-quality live-service games that will keep players entertained for years to come.
