Warner Bros. Games Restructures to Enhance Harry Potter and DC Franchises

Warner Bros. Games has announced a significant restructuring aimed at intensifying its focus on four major franchises: Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. This move, confirmed in a statement by Global Streaming & Games CEO J.B. Perrette, seeks to optimize the company's team structure to create long-term franchise roadmaps that resonate with players and fans alike. Perrette emphasized the strength of the development and technology talent within the company, citing the promotions of three key figures within the organization.

Yves Lachance, previously the head of Warner Bros. Games Montreal, has been elevated to Senior Vice President of Development, overseeing projects related to the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones franchises. Shaun Himmerick, from NetherRealm Studios, now holds the same title and will manage the Mortal Kombat and DC Universe franchises. Steven Flenory, from Warner Bros. Games New York, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Central Tech & Services, where he will supervise game and publishing technology, customer service, quality assurance, and user research.

According to Perrette, "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." This restructuring comes on the heels of a tumultuous start to 2025 for Warner Bros. Games, as it faced significant challenges such as the troubled launches of titles like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus, which has since been shut down.

The restructuring aligns with a broader strategy outlined by Warner Bros. in late 2024, which acknowledged that its gaming division was underperforming compared to its potential. The company specifically identified the need to leverage successful titles such as Hogwarts Legacy and Mortal Kombat, with an emphasis on the importance of the DC franchise as noted by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

These changes are part of a series of adjustments occurring within Warner Bros. Discovery, which is also in the process of splitting into two separate media companies: Global Networks and Streaming & Studios. As part of this transition, the streaming platform Max will revert back to its original branding as HBO Max in the upcoming months. The implications of this restructuring will unfold in the coming years, potentially reshaping the landscape of interactive entertainment under the Warner Bros. banner.