In their 2024 predictions report, Deloitte analysts drew a strong correlation between the success of films and TV shows and the offerings of video games based on the same IP, noting that several of the top-50-grossing films for 2023 have corresponding hit games. “We have to do something that makes sense for the gaming strategy and for fans and for the consumer.” “While they’re working on a Superman movie title, we’re not going to launch a Superman game purely because we feel obligated,” Perrette says. However, the plan isn’t to be “religious” about what they’re creating across divisions. Games is “actively working with on the core franchises within the DC Universe.” And James is actually a gamer, so having someone who’s passionate about it is super helpful,” Perrette says, adding that Warner Bros. “Frankly, there hasn’t been as close a relationship between the studio and the games business as there should have been. When it comes to expanding the DC-focused gaming offering, Perrette and Haddad will be looking to new DC Studio chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have announced plans to incorporate video games into their revamped canon moving forward. Perrette says the success of that game means “we’re constantly looking to see what else we can do” in the “Game of Thrones” and now “House of the Dragon” world, which is “one of our biggest and most popular audience franchises.” is mobile games like “Game of Thrones: Conquest,” which checks that “always on” box - and keeps the TV franchise fresh in people’s minds between TV seasons. With the focus shifting from console- and PC-based games with three- to four-year release schedules, a good example of what to expect more of from Warner Bros. Perrette says that combination is what he’s looking to “build out” for each of Warner Bros.’ most-valued franchises but warns gaming titles are on a “long cycle” and this plan can’t be delivered on in 2024. The exec is referring to the success big franchises have seen recently in offering not just splashy console and PC video games but also live services, mobile and free-to-play titles all within the same IP universe. “We want it to be 'always on.' And the good news is the gaming space is lending itself to that,” Perrette says. Discovery CEO of global streaming and gaming JB Perrette tells Variety the key to topping those numbers is figuring out ways to make prized IP “more than just one great hit every three or four years.” Games has managed “comparable” operating margins and is “punching above weight” thanks to four IPs the company values at $1 billion apiece in the gaming world: Harry Potter, “Game of Thrones,” DC and “ Mortal Kombat.” While “smaller than some of the leading pure-play gaming companies” - namely Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Ubisoft and Take-Two Interactive, as well as publishing competitors Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft Gaming - Warner Bros. This is where Zaslav’s love of franchises meets his plans for domination of the nearly $200 billion gaming industry. The WB Discovery chief, who can’t go one earnings call without boasting about the power of the company’s rich trove of IP, used his Q3 address as a chance to announce plans to level up the video game division, which he says has “consistently enjoyed among the highest ROIs of any of our businesses.” But he also sees a rich opportunity for the company to capture a bigger chunk of territory in games. David Zaslav’s most critical mission is leading Warner Bros.
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