Warner Bros. Games is making a major restructuring move, refocusing its efforts on some of the most iconic franchises in entertainment: Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. As reported by Variety, the changes will include a reshuffling of leadership but no layoffs or executive departures.
The company is promoting key figures from within its ranks to help steer these franchises in a new direction.
Yves Lachance, who previously headed Warner Bros. Games Montreal, will now serve as Senior Vice President of Development, overseeing the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones franchises. Shaun Himmerick from NetherRealm Studios will take the role of Senior Vice President of Development for Mortal Kombat and DC Universe games. Steven Flenory, formerly of Warner Bros. Games New York, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Central Tech & Services, a position that includes managing game publishing technology, customer service, quality assurance, and user research.
J.B. Perrette, Global Streaming & Games CEO, shared the company’s vision, emphasizing the importance of long-term franchise strategies for Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and DC. According to Perrette, the company is lucky to have such a talented leadership team to manage these games, and they are excited to continue delivering exceptional experiences for fans of these franchises.
Despite the positive restructuring news, the company’s recent performance has raised concerns. In January, Warner Bros. Games experienced a setback when CEO David Haddad stepped down following the troubled launches of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus, the latter being shut down shortly after release. The February closure of multiple studios, including Monolith Productions and Player First Games, further added to the uncertainty surrounding the company’s future.
This restructuring aligns with a strategy outlined by Warner Bros. late last year, which acknowledged that its gaming division was underperforming. The company hopes to revitalize its portfolio by doubling down on franchises like Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, and Game of Thrones. Additionally, DC, particularly Batman, is expected to play a central role in the company’s future gaming strategy.
At the same time, Warner Bros. is undergoing other major organizational changes. The company is set to split into two separate entities: Global Networks and Streaming & Studios. On the streaming front, Max will soon revert back to its original branding as HBO Max, further signaling the company’s focus on restructuring its core operations.
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WB Games, you could easily make a great to amazing game (that would make you money, because we know that’s what’s really important to you) by doing the following: Make a Nemesis System Looney Tunes game. Some old Looney Tune villain returns (my choice is Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and has taken over Tune Land. It is your duty, as a CaC Tune to gather your Tune forces and defeat said Tune villain. Over the course of the game, you’ll recruit known Tune characters & face off against known Tune villains who you’ll turn to your side. As with Nemesis games, if you get beat (you can’t really die since you’re a cartoon) those Tunes, be them known villains or Tune Goons, will get more powerful. With the use of cartoons you can do whatever over-the-top violence you can think of, etc. This game could be very successful, if you don’t f’ it up