If there’s a modern gaming trend that isn’t going out of fashion just yet, it’s the live service genre that keeps popping up. The rare successes of games like Fortnite and Roblox have not deterred big publishers, who continue to invest in the hope of capturing lightning in a bottle. Even failure is not a deterrent, as Warner Bros. Games is diving back after losing more than US$300 million on such ventures.
Indeed, the failures of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus may have hit the coffers hard, but it has done little to harm the confidence of a new leadership at the helm. As Eurogamer reports, a new job listing for WB Games suggests that the team is chasing the dragon once more.
Seeking an executive producer who will be sitting at WB Games Montreal, this position “will lead the development of a high-quality AAA game based on one of the iconic IPs from the vast Warner Bros. and DC Comics catalog.”
Warner Bros. Games & the Live Service Genre
While the job listing doesn’t specify which IP the new hire will work on, we at least know what it entails in terms of the underlying systems and mechanics. The new hire will be expected to:
- Oversee all phases of development, from concept to post-launch live operations.
- Oversee post-launch content and live service strategy, ensuring ongoing player engagement.
- Have a deep understanding of the full game development lifecycle, including live services
In any case, it seems that Warner Bros. Games will be giving the genre one more try, with WB Montreal taking over the mantle from Rocksteady. The latter is supposedly working on a new Batman game, which many fans would welcome, but the fate of the former is up for debate.
Considering the significant layoffs following the disaster of Suicide Squad at WB Montreal, another similar showing might just be the end of the studio, which is not positive for the industry at all — time to hold our breaths.
