Latest news with #WarnerBrosGames
The Sun
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Banger' 16 game mega deal worth £477 landing in baskets for only £11 – including Batman & other hit Warner Bros titles
GAMERS, listen up, a mega deal has landed and its about to save you a tonne of cash. The top-selling Warner Bros. Games bundle is back, and from Batman to Mortal Kombat, there is something for every game lover. 5 What's included In the bundle discount there is a bunch of first-class games to get your hands on. While the bundle in full would cost approximately £477, but with two different options on offer customers can choose how much discount they want! Pay at least £10.93 for these 16 items: Gotham Knights The open-world action RPG where the gamer takes on the role of either Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, or Robin in place of Batman, and they can control Gotham's distinct boroughs as they go. Back 4 Blood The successor to the Left 4 Dead franchise. Gamers can play in this four-player co-op shooter game. 5 Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate Edition The critically acclaimed fighting game returns with its definitive version Mortal Kombat 11. It features the base game, both Kombat Packs (adding characters like The Joker, Spawn, RoboCop, and more), and the Aftermath story expansion. FEAR: Ultimate Shooter Edition Play as Point Man, a F.E.A.R. operative with superhuman reflexes, investigating a paranormal threat, engaging in visceral slow-motion gunfights. Middle-earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition The sequel to Shadow of Mordor includes all DLC, expanding the story and gameplay and follows the journey of Talion, forging a new Ring of Power to raise an army against Sauron. Batman™: Arkham Knight Premium Edition The epic conclusion to the Arkham trilogy, and as the "Premium Edition" includes the base game and the Season Pass content, adding new story missions. 5 I njustice 2 Legendary Edition The super-powered sequel to Injustice: Gods Among Us, featuring a massive roster of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains. It continues the cinematic storyline where Batman struggles against Superman's tyrannical regime, with a new threat emerging that jeopardizes Earth's existence. Batman™: Arkham Origins A prequel to the Arkham series, set early in Batman's career on Christmas Eve. Players will be a younger less experienced Batman, facing iconic villains, including The Joker (voiced by Troy Baker), Deathstroke, Bane, and more. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition An action RPG set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, bridging the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The "Game of the Year Edition" includes all DLC, offering new missions, challenges, and runes. 5 There is also the option to pay at least £6.37 for these 7 items: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Set in the same universe as the Arkham games in an expansive open-world Metropolis. Play as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark, members of the infamous Suicide Squad in either solo mode or four player co-op! Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 1 and 2 Bundle Set in 1970s New York City, play as either Rorschach or Nite Owl II (with voice acting by the film's stars) in single-player or co-op. Part 1 and Part 2 tell distinct but connected stories. Mad Max An open-world action game set in the savage post-apocalyptic wasteland from the Mad Max film franchise, where players are Max Rockatansky, a lone warrior struggling for survival. MORTAL KOMBAT XL The ultimate version of Mortal Kombat X, a high-octane fighting game that propels the iconic franchise into a new generation. Mortal Kombat XL includes the base game along with all content from both Kombat Packs and more. Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition The highly acclaimed sequel to Arkham Asylum where Batman is forced into Arkham City, a district of Gotham "home" to Gotham's criminals. The "Game of the Year Edition" includes the base game plus all previously released downloadable content. Batman™: Arkham Asylum GOTY Edition The groundbreaking game that redefined superhero video games. The "Game of the Year Edition" includes the original game and additional challenge maps. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition DC heroes and villains clash in this fighting game from the creators of Mortal Kombat. How to buy 5 To get their hands on this huge bundle normally worth £477, gamers can pay £6.37 or more, saving them hundreds of pounds. Gamers can redeem the discount on Steam where all the games are available. It is recommended that gamers review the system requirements before purchasing.
The Verge
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
WB Games' best PC titles are in this $12 Humble bundle
The future of Warner Bros. Games is unclear, as it shut down several studios and canceled anticipated games earlier this year. But there's no arguing that the company's back catalog of titles is full of gems, many of which are in Humble's great $12 bundle. Through August 27th, you can jump on this unbeatable deal that gets you 16 WB Games titles on Steam for just $12, with proceeds going to the Raiden Science Foundation. This bittersweet bundle features an array of licensed and original open-world titles, fighting games, and first-person shooters from WB Games' studios — most of which have either fallen from grace in recent years, or have been shut down. The standout for me is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Monolith's third-person action game that features the excellent Nemesis System, a mechanic that allows enemies to remember and react to players. For instance, if an enemy kills you in battle, that enemy will get stronger and remember your last encounter, making fights feel more personal. Other highlights include Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and the oft-overlooked Mad Max. There's a lot of fun to be had with other games in the bundle too, like Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat XL, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, among others. In most cases, you'll be getting the most content-complete versions of the games with purchase. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Brandon Russell Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Deals Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All PC Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Video game actors are voting on a new contract. Here's what it means for AI in gaming
A picketer holds a sign for the SAG-AFTRA video game strike at Warner Bros. Games headquarters on Aug. 1, 2024, in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) LOS ANGELES — An 11-month strike by video game performers could formally end this week if members ratify a deal that delivers pay raises, control over their likenesses and artificial intelligence protections. The agreement feels 'like diamond amounts of pressure suddenly lifted,' said Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and chair of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' interactive branch negotiating committee. Union members have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific to vote on ratifying the tentative agreement. Voice and body performers for video games raised concerns that unregulated use of AI could displace them and threaten their artistic autonomy. 'It's obviously far from resolved,' Elmaleh said. 'But the idea that that we're in a zone where we might have concluded this feels like a lightening and a relief.' AI concerns are especially dire in the video game industry, where human performers infuse characters with distinctive movements, shrieks, falls and plot-twisting dialogue. 'I hope and I believe that our members, when they look back on this, will say all of the sacrifices and difficulty we put ourselves through to achieve this agreement will ultimately be worth it because we do have the key elements that we need to feel confident and moving forward in this business,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. Here's a look at the contract currently up for vote, and what it means for the future of the video game industry. How did the current strike play out? Video game performers went on strike last July following nearly two years of failed negotiations with major game studios, as both sides remained split over generative AI regulations. More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting AI provisions SAG-AFTRA was seeking, the union said, which allowed some work to continue. The video game industry is a massive global industry, generating an estimated US$187 billion in 2024, according to game market forecaster Newzoo. 'OD,' and 'Physint' were two games delayed due to the strike during the filming and casting stage, video game developer Hideo Kojima wrote in December. Riot Games, a video game developer, announced that same month that some new skins in 'League of Legends' would have to use existing voice-overs, since new content couldn't be recorded by striking actors. Skins are cosmetic items that can change the visual appearance of a player and is sometimes equipped with new voice-overs and unique recorded lines. The proposed contract 'builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union' to deliver 'historic wage increases' and 'industry-leading AI provisions,' wrote Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal. 'We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world,' Cooling wrote. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. The agreement was ratified with 90 per cent support, with ten per cent of members voting. The proposed contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15 per cent upon ratification and an additional three per cent increase each year of the three-year contract. How would AI use change in video games? AI concerns have taken center stage as industries across various sectors attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving technology. It's a fight that Hollywood writers and actors undertook during the historic film and TV strikes that forced the industry to a stop in 2023. 'In the last few years, it's become obvious that we are at an inflection point where rules of the road have to be set for AI, and if they aren't, the consequences are potentially very serious,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'I think that really made this negotiation extra important for all of us.' SAG-AFTRA leaders have billed the issues behind the labor dispute — and AI in particular — as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. The proposed contract delineates clear restrictions on when and how video game companies can create digital replicas, which use AI to generate new performances that weren't recorded by an actor. Employers must obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica — consent which must be granted during the performer's lifetime and is valid after death unless otherwise limited, the contract states. The time spent creating a digital replica will be compensated as the same amount of work time it would have required for a new performance. The agreement also requires the employer to provide the performer with a usage report that details how the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation. Elmaleh, who has been voice acting since 2010 and had to turn down projects throughout the strike, said securing these gains required voice actors bring vulnerability and openness to the bargaining table. 'We talked a lot about the personal, the way it affects our displacement as workers and just the sustainability of our careers,' Elmaleh said. 'Our work involves your inner child. It's being very vulnerable, it's being playful.' What's next for the video game industry? The tentative agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep progressing. As the contract is considered by union members, Elmaleh and Crabtree-Ireland said further work needs to be done to ensure the provisions are as broad as necessary. 'Even though there's a deal that's been made now, and we've locked in a lot of really crucial protections and guardrails, the things that we haven't been able to achieve yet, we're going to be continuing to fight for them,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'Every time these contracts expire is our chance to improve upon them.' Elmaleh said she hopes both the video game companies and performers can soon work collaboratively to develop guidelines on AI as the technology evolves — a process she said should start well the proposed contract would expire in October 2028. Leading negotiations has felt like a full-time job for Elmaleh, who took on the role in a volunteer capacity. As the efforts die down, she said she anxiously anticipates returning to video game acting in a landscape that is safer for performers. Voice acting 'is core to who I am. It's why I fought so hard for this. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love what I do so much. I think it's so special and worthy of protection,' she said. --- Itzel Luna, The Associated Press
The Verge
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
As part of a restructuring, it's putting its efforts into four tentpoles:
Warner Bros. Games is now focused on its biggest franchises. Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and the DC Universe, as reported by Variety. Let's just hope the next DC Universe game fares better than Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Two major games enjoyed by 35 million players are shutting down in DAYS – spend currency now before it's lost forever
See a full list of more games closing down this year - including a top title next month GAME OVER Two major games enjoyed by 35 million players are shutting down in DAYS – spend currency now before it's lost forever Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PAIR of games enjoyed by more than 35million players at their peak will go dark in a matter of days. Servers for the two titles are set to be switched off, making it impossible for people to continuing accessing them online. 2 Dauntless will no longer be available from May 29 onward Credit: Phoenix Labs 2 MultiVersus is also going offline Credit: Warner Bros Games Dauntless is the first to bow out, on May 29. At its peak, the free-to-play action role-playing game enjoyed 15million active players. But six years after launching, developers said there had been a "decline of active players". They blamed the drop off on "negative public reception of TK" (team kill). But players have pointed the finger at changes in ownership of the company behind Dauntless which they say "ruined the game". "The game is nothing like I remember it when it first launched," one previous fan wrote on Reddit. As such, servers will close on all platforms - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch and PC - on May 29. But it's not the only gaming casualty in May. On May 30, the MultiVersus title will also go offline. The free-to-play crossover fighting game features characters from popular Warner Bros franchises, including Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and Cartoon Network. At its height, the title had 20million players but only a year later numbers waned leading to MultiVersus's online functionality being discontinued. While the servers are closing, players who already have the game installed will still be able to use it offline instead. "After careful consideration, our next Season will serve as the final seasonal content update for the game," developers said. "All online features will continue to be available until Season 5 concludes on May 30 at 9 a.m. PDT. "At that point, there will be an option to play MultiVersus offline via the local gameplay mode, either solo against A.I. opponents or with up to three friends." Watch trailer for doomed Ubisoft shooter game set to close down in weeks More game closures this year Online games are routinely shut down as user numbers drop. Here's a list of other games closing this year to take note of: xDefiant - June 3 The First Descendant - June 19 Black Desert - June 26 Resident Evil ReVerse - June 29 Madden NFL 21 - June 30 Arizona Sunshine - July 1 Skyworld - July 1 Danmachi Battle Chronicle - September 29 WWE 2K24 - September 30 Madden NFL 22 - October 20 PGA Tour 2K21 - October 30 NBA 2K24 - December 31
