Warner Bros. Discovery is restructuring its video game division to concentrate on four key franchises: Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, and the DC Universe.
This change follows mixed performance within the unit. In 2023, the company released Hogwarts Legacy, the year’s best-selling game. However, 2024 saw the underperformance of MultiVersus, which contributed an additional $100 million to a $200 million write-down already recorded by the company.
CEO David Zaslav acknowledged in a recent earnings call that MultiVersus is significantly underperforming. Warner Bros. Games will become part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and studios division after the media company’s planned split into two entities in mid-2026.
No layoffs occurred during the restructure, but several executives have been reassigned to new roles. Yves Lachance, head of Warner Bros. Games Montréal, was promoted to Senior Vice President (SVP) of Development, overseeing teams working on the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones titles. Shaun Himmerick, head of NetherRealm Studios, became SVP of Development for Mortal Kombat and DC games. Steven Flenory, leading the New York studio, was named SVP of Central Tech & Services, managing game and publishing technology, customer service, quality assurance, and user research.
These three executives have joined the senior leadership team and report directly to JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Our company is home to some of the biggest franchises in the world, and we are optimizing our team structure to develop long-term franchise roadmaps to delight players and fans,” said Perrette. “Yves, Shaun and Steven are respected leaders with excellent track records, and I look forward to working with them to create the best games possible for our key franchises.”