Paramount is reportedly prepping a bid to buy Warner Bros โ€” a deal including gaming properties like Mortal Kombat and more

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According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, it appears that Paramount Skydance is planning to submit a purchase offer for Warner Bros. Discovery. The Ellison family may be providing support for this “majority cash” bid, but as of now, there’s no specified price point.

I find myself bearing witness to an intriguing development just weeks following Paramount’s successful merger with Skydance. The individual presiding over this combined entity is David Ellison, the CEO and chairman, who happens to be the son of Larry Ellison – a man currently holding the title as the richest person globally, outstripping Elon Musk with an estimated net worth of staggering $393 billion.

In simpler terms, Megan Ellison, Larry Ellison’s daughter, founded Annapurna Pictures, a company that owns Annapurna Interactive, a significant video game publishing label. If this transaction is completed, it will unite two of the biggest film production studios globally remaining in the industry.

The reported agreement encompasses Warner Bros. Discovery in its entirety, including its gaming division. This extends to studios such as Avalanche and Rocksteady, along with video game series like Batman: Arkham and Mortal Kombat.

WB Games’ lineup was tremendously thinned earlier this year

Earlier this year, WB Games underwent a significant reduction in size, leading to the closing of three of its studios. One of the most noteworthy closures was that of Monolith Productions, who were developing a Wonder Woman video game at the time.

Shadow of Mordor and its subsequent 2017 version, Shadow of War. These games incorporated a unique feature called the Nemesis system, which enabled any enemy to recognize the main character and advance in rank, growing in an unforeseeable manner as players continued their journey.

In the heat of battle, if I’m singed by flame, you might find me later sporting gruesome scars and a deep-seated dread towards the very same inferno.

It was announced that both Player First Games, the developers behind Multiversus, and Warner Bros. San Diego, a supporting studio, have been closed down. Additionally, it is said that Warner Bros. has also allegedly cancelled an unannounced expansion for Hogwarts Legacy, which was being developed by Avalanche Software.

As an analyst, I’m excited to share that our company will be releasing TT Games’ latest title, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, for various platforms. This exciting announcement was made during Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025. The game is scheduled to hit Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and the soon-to-be-revealed Nintendo Switch 2 in the year 2026.

As a dedicated researcher in the gaming sphere, I’m thrilled to share some intriguing updates. Avalanche, known for their work on Hogwarts Legacy, is currently developing a sequel to that captivating title. Meanwhile, whispers abound about Rocksteady’s plans for a fresh Batman game, though it seems neither of these exciting projects are set for an immediate release.

Paramount already has a small gaming group, thanks to Skydance

Paramount’s gaming division currently has a narrow focus due to the recent merger with Skydance. Back in October 2021, it was announced that Skydance had recruited accomplished director Amy Hennig, famous for leading the initial three Uncharted games, to head up a new gaming studio named Skydance New Media.

Since then, we’ve found out that Skydance New Media is developing a Marvel game set during World War 2, called Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. This game features Captain America and Black Panther as the main characters. Originally slated for release this year, the launch has been postponed to some time in 2026.

Skydance New Media, together with Amy Hennig, are developing a Star Wars game too, but details about this project are scarce. Meanwhile, Paramount has been active in gaming ventures beyond just movies – like the Sonic the Hedgehog films and the Halo TV series.

Additionally, Skydance is teaming up with Xbox and Activision for an upcoming Call of Duty movie. However, unlike Hollywood icon Steven Spielberg, it seems this project won’t be helmed by him.

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2025-09-12 14:10