Being a fan of WB Games lately has felt a lot like being a fan of the 1990s Chicago Bulls after Jordan retired. We’ve been wandering through 'extraction shooters' that nobody asked for, clutching our copies of Arkham games like they’re sacred relics from a lost civilization.
But hold onto your utility belts, because WB Discovery’s President and CEO of Global Streaming and Games, JB Peret, just dropped a hint that suggests the studio is finally waking up from a long nap. He’s promising that 'the real fruits' of their labor are coming in 2027 and 2028.
Let’s break down the 'Big Franchise' return possibilities and why your 2027-2028 calendar might actually have something worth playing on it.
The 'Reset' Year : Cleaning Up the Suicide Squad Glitter
Before we look at the future, we have to acknowledge the absolute dumpster fire that was 2025. Over at Gameranx, YouTuber Jake Baldino pointed out that Peret basically called 2025 a "reset year," which is short for "Oops, we accidentally set $200 million on fire with Suicide Squad and tried to pretend that people liked playing it."
As Caboose pointed out in his recent video on YouTube, this 'reset' also involved the heartbreaking cancellation of the Wonder Woman game from Monolith. It’s a move that hurt as much as (if not equal to) the ending of Logan. But hey, acknowledging you have a problem is the first step to recovery, right?
2027 : The Boy Who Lived (And Saved the Balance Sheet)
If 2027 has a mascot, it’s a kid with round glasses and a crazy bank balance. Peret didn't explicitly take names, but he did mention that HBO is banking on a Harry Potter series starting next year.
Podcast Now’s Alex highlighted that this timing is no coincidence, WB wants the "fruits of their labor" to bloom right.
Here’s the math : HBO Show Launch + Hogwarts Legacy 2 = Infinite Money Glitch. It’s the most juicy 'fruit' in the basket, arriving five years after the original.
2028 : The Return of the Bat? (Don’t Give Me Hope)
This is the one that has everyone’s Spidey-senses (wrong franchise, I know) tingling. Peret teased a return to "biggest franchises" - that's PLURAL.
If Batman isn't one of those franchises, then WB clearly hasn't learned anything. With all the Marvel games lined up for launch, we could all use a new Batman title. Here’s why it actually makes sense :
The Pivot : After the Suicide Squad fiasco, rumors are flying that Rocksteady is heading back to the Bat-cave.
The James Gunn Factor : With the new DCU taking flight, WB needs a flagship game that doesn't suck. A new installment in the Arkham series or a completely new game for that matter, would be a perfect start in my opinion.
Lego Batman as the Appetizer : 'Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight' is already on the horizon. It’s the 'warm-up act' to see if we still care about the Caped Crusader (spoiler: we do).
The 'Injustice' of it All
Let's not forget NetherRealm. After doing Mortal Kombat back-to-back like they were trying to win a 'Most Blood Spilled' award, the world is literally starving for Injustice 3. I'm personally crossing my fingers for this one. If WB wants to prove they're 'back,' giving us a game where Superman actually acts like a hero for five minutes would be a great start.
The Elephant in the Room : The Paramount/Netflix Drama
Of course, all of this depends on who actually owns Warner Bros by that time. One minute Netflix is buying them for $83 billion, the next minute it bails and Paramount Skydance swoops back in. A 110 billion-heavy Paramount merger could lead to layoffs or studio closures, which might turn these '2028 fruits' into a weird milkshake before they even ripen.
The Verdict : Should You Get Your Hopes Up?
Not yet, it's because WB is terrified. Well, why won't it be? After the back-to-back failures of movies and games, it's just hard to look (or stay) that confident.
So, will we get a new Batman game in 2028? All signs point to "Yes, because if they don't, the hardcore fans will riot harder than Bane’s army."
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go replay Arkham Knight and pretend it’s 2028 already.
