Major news shook the entertainment industry today as Netflix announced its plans to acquire the movie titan Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion. This deal specifically includes its film and television divisions, including the HBO brand, and surprisingly it also includes some video game franchises as well. The information comes from Game Developer, who managed to confirm with word from a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson that the Netflix purchase includes its gaming division.
This is a surprising announcement, as this means that Netflix, not typically known for their contributions to the gaming space, are set to soon be owning some major game developers. These include Batman: Arkham creators Rocksteady, Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm, TT Games, the creators of the hugely popular LEGO game series, and even Hogwarts Legacy studio Avalanche Software.
Whilst most official communication from Netflix and Warner Bros. today has unsurprisingly been focused on the film and television spaces, the acquisiton could be seen as giving Netflix a sudden yet considerable position within the gaming industry. The streaming giant has made small steps into the gaming space before with its games on Netflix initiative, including recent efforts to get more users playing their games, but the purchase of existing studios and brands known for their games solidifies this push even further.
How do you feel about the Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. and the gaming treasure trove they suddenly find themselves in control of? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments down below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news coverage.
