Microsoft eyeing up purchase of WB Interactive to develop Xbox exclusives
Xbox’s first-party lineup could get a massive boost
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For the last two years,Microsofthas been aggressivelypurchasing game studiosin an effort to raise its first-party games lineup, and this approach has only gottenmore intensein the lead up to the release of its upcomingXbox Series Xconsole.
According toThe Information, Microsoft is now looking at the possibility of acquiring Warner Bros. Interactive, following a report fromCNBCstating that parent company AT&T is considering selling off WB’s gaming division for around $4 billion in an effort to reduce around $154 billion in debt.
If true, Microsoft would join the likes of Activision,Blizzard, Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive, who have also expressed interest in acquiring WB Interactive’s impressive portfolio of studios, which includes Avalanche Software, NetherRealm Studios, Rocksteady Studios, TT Games and more.
Should Microsoft beat out other prospective buyers, it could mean that future games from IPs such as LEGO, Harry Potter, Just Cause, Batman, Mortal Kombat and more could become Xbox exclusives, along with Rocksteady’s rumouredSuicide Squad game.
Of all the companies supposedly vying to acquire Warner Bros. Interactive, Microsoft seems like the most likely, given its desire to build a first-party lineup worthy of taking onSony, and the fact that it has more than enough cash to foot the bill.
That said, The Information’s rumors of game studio acquisitionshave been wrong in the past, so we’d take this latest rumor with a grain of salt until an official announcement is made.
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Stephen primarily covers phones and entertainment for TechRadar’s Australian team, and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming in both print and online for over a decade. He’s obsessed with smartphones, televisions, consoles and gaming PCs, and has a deep-seated desire to consume all forms of media at the highest quality possible.
He’s also likely to talk a person’s ear off at the mere mention of Android, cats, retro sneaker releases, travelling and physical media, such as vinyl and boutique Blu-ray releases. Right now, he’s most excited about QD-OLED technology, The Batman and Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga.
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