In a recent earnings call, Warner Bros' CEO David Zaslav announced the company's intention to focus on transforming its console and PC titles to include more always-on gameplay through live services, multiplatform releases, and free-to-play extensions. With the aim of having more players spending more time on its platforms, several of Warner Bros' upcoming titles, including Mortal Kombat 1, Hogwarts Legacy, and the Batman and Game of Thrones IPs, may see the integration of these features.

While Mortal Kombat 1 already embraces the live-service model, it is surprising that no new content has been introduced for Hogwarts Legacy since its launch. Despite receiving patches and general updates, players have been eagerly awaiting additional content for the highly anticipated game.

One notable casualty of this shift in focus is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Originally slated for release in May of this year, the game has been delayed to February 2024 following a State of Play presentation that generated significant backlash. Rocksteady, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham trilogy, had incorporated live-service elements and gear scores into their vision for Suicide Squad. Although these elements will still be present in the game upon release, the studio has expressed its commitment to delivering the best quality experience for players.

Warner Bros' decision to invest heavily in live-service gaming aligns with the industry trend of providing ongoing content and updates to keep players engaged long after a game's initial release. With Mortal Kombat 1 already showcasing the success of such an approach, fans of the upcoming releases from the Batman and Game of Thrones IPs, as well as Hogwarts Legacy, can expect more opportunities for continuous gameplay and expanded experiences.

As Warner Bros moves forward with its transformation into the live-service gaming space, players will eagerly await further details on the implementation of these features across their beloved franchises.