Before entering into negotiations with Warner Bros., Netflix showed interest in buying EA and two other studios, Fox and Disney.
According to Bloomberg, Netflix management discussed these deals but could not reach an agreement and feared that such interest would damage its reputation among investors.
Deals with Warner Bros. and EA are not yet guaranteed and require regulatory approval. If EA is bought, the Saudi Fund (Public Investment Fund) will gain control of the company. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren have expressed concern about "foreign influence" on EA. Last month, EA stated that it would retain creative control over the company.
Buying Warner Bros. would leave Netflix in control of the Mortal Kombat, Batman, and Harry Potter franchises. Netflix has previously been active in the gaming industry, but in 2024, it shut down the development of a AAA shooter with veterans from Halo and Destiny, and in October, it closed Boss Fight studio, which developed Squid Game: Unleashed.
