华纳兄弟最近在游戏业务领域进行了多项大手笔的操作，分别并购了Monolith (F.E.A.R.)、 TT Games (LEGO franchise)和NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat)等多家游戏公司。

warnerbros

华纳兄弟负责产品与业务拓展的高级副总裁（前Monolith首席执行官）Samantha Ryan表示这样急速的扩张完全是因为看中了整个领域领域潜在的大市场。

但在多方并购以后，华纳兄弟目前所要做的是回归到公司拥有的资源本身进行内部重组优化和活力挖掘，Samantha Ryan认为这远远比早期的单纯并购更加重要。

“你可能将看不到更多疯狂的重量级并购行径了，如果有也只是一些小打小闹的补充。”

SamRyan

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has been making extremely aggressive moves in the game space, growing an eight-strong portfolio of fully- or majority-owned studios in just five years. The company now owns Monolith (F.E.A.R.), TT Games (LEGO franchise), NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat), and others, and has a majority stake in Batman: Arkham Asylum developer Rocksteady.

Samantha Ryan, senior VP of production and development at WB and former head of Monolith, tells Gamasutra this rapid expansion is in part because “there’s opportunity in the marketplace,” with developers needing more assistance as publishers tighten their purse strings.

“It’s a real changing marketplace these days,” says Ryan, formerly president and CEO of Monolith, “and I think Midway is a perfect example. I think Mortal Kombat looks amazing. I think that team is amazing, and I was surprised that others didn’t step up, because why would you not want to own one of the best franchises in the game industry?”

The majority of failed publisher Midway Games’ assets, studios and intellectual properties, including Mortal Kombat, were purchased by Warner Bros. in 2009 for $49 million. WB was the only bidder on the lot.

“I think it goes to Warner Bros. being what they are, (having) a lot of opportunity right now,” she added, “and some of the other publishers are really struggling. But we’re really on our way up.”

But after the rapid expansion, Ryan says it’s time to focus on internal depth and growth, not more acquisitions. “We’re actually I think going to go through kind of a settling period for a little while,” she said, “where we’re going to focus on getting all the stuff that we’ve just acquired well-integrated, and really focus on the games.”

The company is expanding its portfolio of games as new consoles and technologies emerge, but using the existing suite of companies.

“I don’t think you’re going to see a ton more acquisition,” she concluded. “Maybe a little tiny one as a complementary piece, but aside from that I’m hoping that we take it easy for a while。”