Mortal Kombat Packs a Punch for WBD Gaming Goals

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) reported strong third-quarter results yesterday, highlighting gaming as a critical growth area for the recently merged company. One game driving momentum is Mortal Kombat 1, which has sold nearly 3 million copies since launching in mid-September.

"Mortal Kombat is one of our $1 billion gaming franchises," said WBD CEO David Zaslav. "The launch of Mortal Kombat 1 has been incredible, further establishing it as a flagship title for us."

Mortal Kombat 1 is a remaster of the original Mortal Kombat game that started the iconic fighting game series known for its over-the-top violence and trademark fatalities. According to WBD, it's one of four game properties they own that generate over $1 billion each, along with Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Batman.

The successful launch of Mortal Kombat 1 comes on the heels of WBD's other major 2022 release, Hogwarts Legacy. The Harry Potter-based roleplaying game has logged over 700 million hours of gameplay since debuting in February.

WBD is looking to build on the momentum from these hits by investing more in gaming. The company believes that transforming flagship games like Mortal Kombat into live services across multiple platforms can significantly increase engagement and monetization.

With established IP and recent successes, Warner Bros. Discovery is positioning its gaming division for major growth in the years ahead. Mortal Kombat 1's impressive sales outside the gate underscore the potential WBD sees in further expanding its presence in the $175 billion gaming market.