Like it or not, many big game studios want to crack the live service model, with industry behemoths like Fortnite proving just how successful the model can be. A line tucked away in a job listing from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) has suggested that Warner is looking to follow this model for upcoming games featuring many of its most popular franchises.
The job listing was first picked up by MauroNL on Twitter, with the information coming from a job listing for a Games Production MBA Intern with WBIE.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) is currently involved in a variety of new projects featuring their well-known franchises with a “heavy focus on live service”. This applies to both casual games and core games on all platforms (console, digital and mobile).
1/4— MauroNL (@MauroNL3) January 25, 2021
“WBIE is currently involved in a variety of new projects, ranging from casual games to core games featuring our well-known franchises on all platforms (console, digital, mobile) with a heavy focus on live service,” the listing reads. The role is heavily focused on consumer research, suggesting WBIE will be looking at other examples of live service success as inspiration.
As compiled by MauroNL, WBIE is currently at work on a number of games from Warner’s major franchises, with the most high-profile being Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. A number of WBIE studios are also working on games that are as-yet unannounced.
This info is tucked away in a recent internship listing on the WBIE career page. Currently in development titles at WBIE are:
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Q2 2021)
Back 4 Blood (June 2021)
Gotham Kinghts (2021)
Hogwarts Legacy (2022)
Suicide Squad: KTJC (2022)
2/4— MauroNL (@MauroNL3) January 25, 2021
Other WBIE studios that have no announced games:
NetherRealm (Mortal Kombat)
Monolith Productions (Shadow of War)
WB Games Boston and SF (mobile)
Playdemic (LEGO Mobile)
I previously reported on TT Games working on a “major IP based LEGO game in Unreal Engine”.
3/4— MauroNL (@MauroNL3) January 25, 2021
On the other side of the superhero fence, Marvel launched its shot at a live service game last year with the Square Enix-developed Marvel’s Avengers, which hasn’t performed as well as expected despite ongoing updates and new characters. Steam Charts chronicles a depressing drop-off for the game, with concurrent users peaking at 28,000 around launch, but then posting averages under 1000 for every month since November 2020.
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