Rumor: Microsoft polls Warner Bros. acquisition Interactive Entertainment

Microsoft is rumored to have expressed interest in acquiring Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. This would give Microsoft studios that are responsible for Batman and Mortal Kombat games, among other things.

If the information from two sources of The Information is correct, Microsoft will join the other potentially interested in an acquisition of WB Interactive, Activision Blizzard, EA and Take Two. The game division of Warner Bros. is currently owned by AT&T, but the company is said to be considering a sale to ease its $165 billion debt burden.

AT&T has not yet made a final decision on a sale. Microsoft would improve its position in the game market with a possible acquisition, at a time when its Xbox Series X console is competing with Sony’s PlayStation 5. Microsoft previously acquired Ninja Theory, Obsidian and Double Fine, among others.

Under Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment includes studios such as Avalanche Software, Monolith Productions, NetherRealm Studios, Rocksteady Studios, TT Games, and WB’s own game studios in Boston, Montréal, and San Francisco. For example, Rocksteady made Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, while NetherRealm is behind Mortal Kombat.