Warner Bros. Games

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
)

Warner Bros. Games
FormerlyWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (2004–2020)
Company typeDivision
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 14, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-01-14)
Headquarters,
US
Key people
David Haddad (President)
Products
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment (2022–present)[1]
Subsidiaries
Websitewarnerbrosgames.com

Warner Bros. Games (formerly Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) is an American

Home Entertainment division when that company was formed in October 2005. Warner Bros. Games manages the wholly owned game development studios TT Games, Rocksteady Studios, NetherRealm Studios, Monolith Productions, WB Games Boston, Avalanche Software, and WB Games Montréal, among others.[2]

History

The foundation of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) under

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment–and WBIE was transferred as part of it.[5]

In 2005, the first game that Monolith developed in conjunction with Warner Bros. was

SCi Entertainment, the owner of Eidos Interactive. In 2006, British video game publisher Codemasters signed an American distribution deal with Warner Bros;[6] the deal expired in 2011 when Codemasters left for THQ. In 2012, Codemasters and Warner Bros. restarted the distribution deal after THQ went bankrupt.[7]

In 2007, they implemented a five-year plan, the goal of which was to expand in the video game industry and included the acquisition of studios for internal development and the creation of a studio (WB Games) in the Seattle area that will run all the games published and developed by the company;[8] the first acquisition under this plan was Britain's TT Games that same year, for £100 million.[9]

In April 2008, they increased their stake to 35%, gaining distribution rights of all Eidos games in North America.[10] On December 15, 2008, shortly after SCi changed their name to Eidos plc, Warner acquired a total of 10 million shares of the company, raising its owned amount to 19.92%, after an agreement which prevented Time Warner from acquiring more shares was scrapped one month earlier.[11] On January 28, 2009, The Hollywood Reporter reported the deal also gave Warner the rights of the Tomb Raider film series,[12] previously owned by Paramount Pictures. On February 12, 2009, Warner Bros. backed Square Enix's acquisition offer worth £84.3 million for Eidos plc as majority stakeholder.[13][14]

Warner Bros. announced on February 4, 2009 it had purchased independent developer Snowblind Studios.[15] Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition serves to strengthen the publisher's internal development effort.

Also in 2009, Warner purchased most of the assets of American publisher Midway Games, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, for $49 million. The assets purchased include Midway's studio in Chicago[16] and Surreal Software, resulting in the ownership to the rights to the Joust, Mortal Kombat, The Suffering, Spy Hunter and Wheelman series, as well as the library of the former Atari Games, which had previously been owned by Time Warner.[17] Midway had previously worked with Warner Bros. on several games, including Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. Midway intended to hold an auction of its assets on June 29, 2009, but no other bids were placed. On July 10, the sale to Warner was completed for approximately US$49 million.[18] In the process, Warner became the owner of the Blitz: The League series. On July 28, 2009, Midway's Mortal Kombat team was rebranded WB Games Chicago[19] and, in 2010, was merged with Midway Games to form NetherRealm Studios.[20]

On January 13, 2010, it was announced that WBIE would produce and gain exclusive rights to Sesame Street video games, starting in fall 2010 with Elmo's A-to-Zoo Adventure and Cookie's Counting Carnival.[21][22] On February 23, 2010, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group announced it had acquired a majority stake in independent London-based developer Rocksteady Studios, an independent development studio based in London. Rocksteady and Warner had previously worked together in Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, and have announced they will work in the future with more Warner Bros. licenses.[23]

On March 22, 2010, WBIE became the latest videogame company to open a studio in

Turbine, Inc. the developer of the famous MMOs Asheron's Call, Dungeons & Dragons Online and The Lord of the Rings Online.[26]

On June 4, WBHEG and Turbine, inc. said that the massively multiplayer online title The Lord of the Rings Online was to become a free-to-play game that autumn.

Diane Nelson to the post of President and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.[30][31] In January 2015, David Haddad was named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the company[32] and was promoted to President in October.[33]

On December 19, 2016, it was announced that Warner Bros. would no longer develop or publish The Lord of the Rings Online or Dungeons & Dragons Online; further development of the game would be handled by a newly formed studio, Standing Stone Games, with publishing to be transitioned over to Daybreak Game Company. The new studio would take the old development team from Turbine, leaving Turbine as a mobile-only developer.[34] As part of the deal, Daybreak did not pick up the rights to Asheron's Call, an original IP created by Turbine and thus owned by Warner Bros. as part of the 2010 acquisition. This resulted in the closure of Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings on January 31, 2017.[35]

On January 24, 2017, it was announced that recently-closed studio Avalanche Software and its Octane engine software were acquired by Warner Bros. from Disney Interactive Studios and the studio was reopened, with John Blackburn returning as its CEO. The studio's first title under Warner was a companion video game to the Disney-Pixar film Cars 3, titled Cars 3: Driven to Win, in partnership with Warner Bros., Disney, and Pixar.[36] On February 8, Playdemic was acquired through TT Games to make Lego games for mobile devices.[37] On July 11, 2018, it acquired Plexchat, a communications platform for mobile games, with its founder and staff joining WB Games San Francisco.[38][39]

In mid-2020, there had been industry rumors that AT&T, in order to raise funds, was looking to sell off parts of its divisions, with WBIE as one that had been rumored to be up for sale that would have raised $4 billion, according to

The Information.[40][41] However, in an August 2020 press release regarding an organizational restructuring, WarnerMedia stated that WBIE "remains part of the Studios and Networks group".[42][43] Bloomberg News reported AT&T has confirmed to no longer be selling the game division, the decision to keep the division amid a change in leadership at AT&T in July of that year.[44]

Instead, in May 2021, AT&T announced that it was splitting off WarnerMedia for about $43 billion, where it would be merged with

HBO Max and Discovery+ to form Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment, to be overseen by JB Perrette; WB Games president David Haddad would report directly to Perrette.[1] The merger was completed on April 8.[48]

Subsidiaries and divisions

Publishing labels

Studios

Former studios

List of video games

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Discovery, Inc. Announces Future Leadership Team for Warner Bros. Discovery". Discovery. April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Home Entertainment – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment". Warner Bros. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "Newly Created Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc. Dedicated To Interactive Gaming Business To Be Headed By Technology Executive Jason Hall". Warner Bros. January 14, 2004. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Sooman, Derek (August 12, 2004). "Warner Bros. Buys Monolith". TechSpot. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "Briefing". The Ledger. October 26, 2005. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Warner Bros. To distribute Codemasters titles in US". December 19, 2006.
  7. ^ "Warner Bros. To distribute Codemasters games in 2012".
  8. Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived
    from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  9. ^ Kietzmann, Ludwig (December 11, 2007). "Report: TT Games sold to Warner Bros. for approx. $210 million". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "Warner Bros. Strengthens Partnership with SCi". Edge Online. August 25, 2008. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  11. ^ Brightman, James (December 15, 2008). "Time Warner has picked up an additional 10 million shares, raising its total stake in Eidos to about 20% percent". GameDaily. AOL. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  12. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (January 28, 2009). "Lara Croft to return to the big screen". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009.
  13. Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived
    from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  14. ^ "Offer for Eidos plc". Square Enix Holdings Co Limited. February 12, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  15. ^ Nelson, Randy (February 4, 2009). "Warner Bros Interactive acquires Snowblind Studios". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  16. ^ Gilbert, Ben (July 27, 2009). "Mortal Kombat team sheds Midway skin for 'WB Games Chicago'". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  17. 1UP. IGN. Archived from the original
    on July 21, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  18. ^ Spangler, Todd (July 17, 2009). "Midway Completes Time Warner Sale". Multichannel News. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  19. ^ Martin, Matt (July 28, 2009). "Mortal Kombat studio becomes WB Games Chicago". gamesindustry.biz. gamesindustry. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  20. ^ "Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announces Mortal Kombat". Business Wire. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  21. ^ "Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment And Sesame Workshop Announce Exclusive Worldwide Publishing Agreement For Sesame Street Video Games". Warner Brps. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  22. ^ "Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announces Sesame Street: Elmo's A-to-Zoo Adventure and Sesame Street: Cookie's Counting Carnival". EON. June 7, 2010. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  23. ^ Kietzmann, Ludwig (February 23, 2010). "Warner Bros. acquires Batman dev Rocksteady Studios". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  24. ^
    Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived
    from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  25. ^ Brice, Katherine (April 9, 2010). "Warner Bros announces FEAR 3". gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  26. ^ Pham, Alex (April 20, 2010). "Warner Bros. acquires Turbine, developer of Lord of the Rings Online". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  27. ^ Martin, Matt (June 4, 2010). "Lord of the Rings Online adopts free-to-play model". gamesindustry.biz. Game Network. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  28. Time Warner. June 10, 2010. Archived
    from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  29. on February 29, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  30. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (May 15, 2013). "Kevin Tsujihara Realigns Management of WB's TV, Home Entertainment Units". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. DC Entertainment prexy Diane Nelson adds oversight of the WB Interactive Entertainment unit overseeing its vidgame biz. She'll now have dual report to Tsujihara and motion picture group topper Jeff Robinov.
  31. ^ "Diane Nelson". DCEntertainment.com. 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. As President & Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Nelson has the additional responsibilities of overseeing the development, production and marketing of all video game titles for WBIE, including those based on DC characters, as well as other Warner Bros. properties and original IP.
  32. ^ "David Haddad Appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment". Business Wire. January 8, 2015. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  33. ^ "David Haddad Named President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment". Business Wire. October 20, 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  34. ^ Bree Royce (December 19, 2016). "Turbine Spins Lotro And Ddo Teams Out To New Studio, Using Daybreak As Publisher". Massively Overpowered. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  35. ^ Bree Royce (December 20, 2016). "ASHERON'S CALL AND ITS SEQUEL WILL SUNSET AS PART OF THE TURBINE/STANDING STONE SPLIT". Massively Overpowered. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  36. ^
    Gamasutra. Archived
    from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  37. ^ from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  38. ^ "Warner Brors.Interactive Entertainment Invests in Social Capabilities for Mobile Games With Plexchat Acquisition". warnerbros.com. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  39. ^ Fogel, Sterfanie (July 11, 2018). "WBIE Acquires Mobile Games Communications Platform Plexchat". Variety. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  40. The Information
    . Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  41. ^ Sherman, Alex (June 12, 2020). "AT&T seeks sale for Warner gaming unit, could fetch about $4 billion, sources say". CNBC. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  42. ^ "WarnerMedia Organization Update" (Press release). WarnerMedia. August 7, 2020. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  43. ^ Robinson, Andy (August 9, 2020). "Warner Bros. parent suggests its games business is staying put". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  44. ^ Ahmed, Nabila; Moritz, Scott (September 1, 2020). "AT&T to Scrap Sale of Warner Bros. Video-Game Unit". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  45. ^ Alexander, Julia (May 17, 2021). "What Does the WarnerMedia and Discovery Deal Mean For You?". IGN. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  46. ^ Saed, Sherif (June 2, 2021). "Warner Bros. Discovery set to be WB Games' new corporate owner". VG247. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  47. ^ "Electronic Arts Completes Acquisition of Mobile Game Creator Playdemic from AT&T". Electronic Arts. September 20, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  48. ^ Maas, Jennifer (April 8, 2022). "Discovery Closes Acquisition of AT&T's WarnerMedia". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  49. ^ "TT Games Opens New Mobile Focused Studio | BricksFanz". Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  50. ^ "New LEGO Mobile Studio Renamed TT Odyssey | BricksFanz". Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  51. ^ Chan, Stephanie (June 22, 2017). "Warner Bros. opens New York office to support games like Injustice 2". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  52. GamesIndustry.biz. Archived
    from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  53. ^ Graser, Marc (March 22, 2013). "Warner Bros. Opens San Francisco Game Studio". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  54. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 23, 2021). "AT&T, WarnerMedia Sell Playdemic Mobile Game Studio To Electronic Arts For $1.4 Billion". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2021.

External links