AT&T is reportedly in talks to sell Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
According to a report from CNBC, AT&T is seeking to sell Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) in a deal that could net around $4 billion. Companies that have expressed interest in purchasing WBIE include Take-Two Interactive, Electronic Arts, and Activision Blizzard. Neither AT&T nor WBIE have commented on the report at this time, though the incoming CEO of AT&T John Stankey said in March that AT&T is working to rationalize its portfolio.
WBIE is known for publishing several high-profile series including Mortal Kombat, Batman: Arkham, and Middle Earth. It is unclear how the sale of WBIE would affect the development of licensed titles, the licensing rights for series like Batman: Arkham would presumably remain property of Warner Bros. CNBC reports that a licensing agreement may be part of a potential sale, but there is no guarantee.
The future of studios owned by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment could also be affected by the sale. The company currently owns several prominent studios including Rocksteady, NetherRealm, and Monolith. We won’t know for certain how these companies will be affected until after a sale is finalized, but acquisitions can be tumultuous for subsidiaries.
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The sale of WBIE to a larger publisher would most likely affect many consumer-favorite games and studios. We’ll keep you updated on the situation as more information becomes available.
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