Netflix reportedly „didn’t attribute any value” to Warner Bros.’ games business in the recent acquisition

by

Netflix addressed the competition from Paramount Skydance for Warner Bros. and shared an unexpected insight into how they’re evaluating the deal. According to Pocket Gamer, Netflix co-CEO Gregory Peters stated they didn’t consider Warner Bros.’ gaming division to have any value. While many gamers have seen Warner Bros. mismanage studios and franchises recently, it raises the question: is WB Games truly worthless?

Netflix co-CEO says that they “didn’t attribute any value” to Warner Bros.’ gaming business

Last week, Netflix announced it was buying Warner Bros., but the deal still needs to go through a lengthy review process – likely taking a year or more. This reminds many of the complicated and drawn-out process Microsoft faced when it acquired Activision Blizzard, dealing with numerous companies and government agencies along the way. Then, just yesterday, Paramount Skydance entered the bidding war, announcing their offer for Warner Bros. is better than Netflix’s.

These deals will dramatically change the entertainment landscape. While all three companies – Warner Bros., Paramount Skydance, and Netflix – are heavily invested in TV and film, their involvement with video games differs. Warner Bros. is the most experienced, with several major studios and the 2023 blockbuster game, Hogwarts Legacy, under its belt. Paramount Skydance has some potential projects, like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, but hasn’t released anything major yet. Netflix maintains a surprisingly strong game library, but hasn’t created a standout game of its own, and even closed its main AAA game development studio last year.

It’s worrying that a top Netflix executive seems to dismiss Warner Bros.’ plans in gaming, suggesting they don’t improve the value of a potential deal. This raises questions about Netflix’s intentions for the studios: will they keep them, sell them to the highest bidder, or even close them down? While the most optimistic outcome would be for the studios to continue operating normally, history—like Microsoft’s recent acquisition—shows that big takeovers often result in job losses and studio shutdowns.

It seems unwise to underestimate studios like Avalanche, the creators of last year’s top-selling video game, along with other well-known developers such as Rocksteady (known for the Arkham series), TT Games (famous for LEGO games), and NetherRealm (Mortal Kombat, Injustice). Despite strong competition from Paramount Skydance, Netflix believes the acquisition will succeed. According to reports, Netflix executives are very pleased with the agreement and are confident it will be finalized, meaning they’re likely to acquire these studios regardless of the challenges.

Read More

2025-12-10 04:32