WB Games Ditches Risks to Push Harry Potter, GoT & More!
Published On: June 18, 2025
Warner Bros. Games is undergoing a major restructuring to focus on four of its most recognizable and commercially successful franchises: Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and the DC Universe. The shift follows a turbulent period for the gaming division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), marked by both historic wins and costly missteps.
The decision comes as WBD prepares to split into two separate companies by mid-2026. The video game division will become part of the new Streaming & Studios branch, overseen by CEO David Zaslav. JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming & Games at WBD, will manage the reshaped games unit directly.
The restructuring involves no layoffs but includes several leadership promotions aimed at aligning development teams more directly with each franchise. Yves Lachance, previously head of WB Games Montréal, will now serve as SVP of Development for the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones games. Shaun Himmerick, head of NetherRealm Studios, steps up as SVP of Development for Mortal Kombat and DC games. Meanwhile, Steven Flenory, formerly of WB Games New York, becomes SVP of Central Tech & Services, overseeing QA, publishing technology, user research, and customer support.
Hogwarts Legacy topped 2023’s sales charts and became a breakout success, reaffirming the strength of the Harry Potter brand in gaming. Its performance likely played a role in Warner Bros.’ decision to double down on familiar franchises.
2024 has been a rough year for Warner Bros. Games. Their big release, MultiVersus, didn’t do nearly as well as expected. The game flopped so badly that it cost the company over $100 million, pushing total losses from the gaming division to around $200 million this year. CEO David Zaslav admitted in a recent call with investors that the gaming side of the business isn’t living up to its potential.
This new focus on fewer, well-known franchises could end up being a good move. When you narrow your efforts, there’s a better chance of putting out higher-quality games. But it’s still unclear whether Warner Bros. has nailed down what actually makes a game successful, or if they’re just chasing what they think will sell. A lot of games flop these days because studios forget what players actually care about: strong stories, freedom, satisfying combat, and maybe even a bit of humor. Some of the most beloved titles, like Baldur’s Gate 3, Clair Obscur, and Hollow Knight, came from lesser-known studios that followed a version of that formula and found massive success.