WB Games is in an odd position at the moment. Its two biggest studios, Rocksteady and Netherrealm, both failed to achieve sales targets with their latest games. At the same time, Warner Bros is trying to spin up the new ‘DC Universe', spanning films, games and other media. It would seem that the hopes of an expansive DC universe may keep both of these studios alive for the foreseeable future, as leaders from both are actively meeting with James Gunn to discuss future plans.

James Gunn was hired by Warner Bros to spearhead a new effort to put together a new cross-media DC universe, starting with a new Superman film, due to release later this year. As it turns out, Gunn has his hands in more than movies. According to ComicBook, who attended a recent DC Studios event, James Gunn has been meeting with Rocksteady and Netherrealm heads to discuss future plans for in-universe video games.

DC Studios co-head, Peter Safran, gave the following quote during the event: “It’s really the first time it’s ever been this way at Warner Bros. James and I sit with the guys that run the studios under JB Perette whether it’s NetherRealm or Rocksteady. We sit with them and we talk about characters and stories that we’re interested in and that they’re interested in.”

Gunn added that they see “designs for the projects in their very earliest stages” and then make suggestions on story direction based on what they have planned for the DC Universe at large.

However, it is said that the first true DCU game won't release for at least “a couple of years”. Given how long AAA development timelines are nowadays, I would say that a couple of years is an underestimate.

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KitGuru Says: We recently heard that Rocksteady is now trying to pitch a new single-player Batman game following the failure and shutdown of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The issue is, Rocksteady made some of the best Batman stories ever told, all on their own. Now, the studio has to also appease the directors behind the movies, which could ultimately hinder creativity. My worry is that certain characters will now be ‘off limits', with the goal of maintaining a singular canon and naturally, a film director will want the biggest moments reserved for the films, which would also hamper the impact of the stories these studios are able to tell in the video game format. I don't think it is going to work out the way they envision, but time will well.

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