Gaming
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unveils multiple mobile games
MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has unveiled its slate of upcoming mobile game releases, showcasing diverse free-to-play and premium gaming experiences and leveraging some of the world’s most powerful franchises, including Batman, DC Comics, Mortal Kombat, the Lego brand and Game of Thrones.
“Our mobile business has been a key priority for the company, and we are utilizing our incredibly talented internal development teams to create games with marquee franchises. We’ve seen tremendous growth with our mobile business and expect to increase our market share by applying our best in class development, publishing and brand marketing to this impressive slate of games,” said Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment EVP and general manager David Haddad.
The following are five new games under development with Warner Bros.’ wholly-owned development studios:
• Mortal Kombat X, NetherRealm Studios: The game blends fighting and card collection for a whole new way to experience Mortal Kombat on mobile platforms. Featuring cinematic gameplay and visceral Fatalities, play as legendary and all-new fighters created for Mortal Kombat X. Players who also own a forthcoming console or PC version of the game will have the ability to unlock content in the mobile game and vice versa.
• Batman: Arkham Underworld, Turbine: Rule Gotham City! Build your hideout, then recruit and train an army of henchmen to do your bidding. Command iconic super-villains from the Batman: Arkham universe, including the Riddler, Harley Quinn and Killer Croc, to become Gotham City’s next criminal kingpin. Sign up for beta at www.arkhamunderworld.com.
• Lego Batman: Beyond Gotham, TT Games: The Caped Crusader joins forces with the super heroes of the DC Comics universe in this premium game and blasts off to outer space to stop the evil Brainiac from destroying Earth. Now the greatest super heroes and the most cunning villains must unite and stop Brainiac before it’s too late.
• DC Comics Legends, WB Games San Francisco: Gamers will grow their collection of legendary DC Comics super heroes and villains, customizing super teams with the right heroes for each encounter in this mobile RPG.
• Game of Thrones, Turbine: Conquer Westeros in an epic combat strategy game based on the hit television series from HBO. Prove the wit of your spies and the might of your forces on the battlefield as you extend your dominance across the seven Kingdoms. Join an alliance, rise to power, and then try to take the Iron Throne if you dare!
“In just four years, we have launched 25 games with more than 150 million installs worldwide across diverse fighting, strategy, puzzle and action adventure genres, and we will focus our business on a strong games-as-a-service model in 2015. Our line-up of strong titles will deliver deep player engagement, as well as innovation like console game connectivity with games including Mortal Kombat X and Batman: Arkham Underworld,” said Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment senior vice president, mobile, social and emerging platforms Greg Ballard.
This line-up of forthcoming games is accompanied by two titles launched earlier in 2015: WWE Immortals, which has achieved more than seven million installs since going live on15 January, and The Lego Movie Videogame for mobile devices, which delivered one of WBIE’s highest grossing launch weeks ever for a Lego mobile game.
Gaming
Esports Nations Cup 2026 unveils first eight titles
Chess, CS2 and mobile hits headline global, flag-based debut
RIYADH: Riyadh is gearing up for a new kind of esports showdown, one where players will not just represent teams or brands, but entire nations. The Esports World Cup Foundation has revealed the first eight titles for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, set to run from 2 to 29 November in the Saudi capital.
The event introduces a national team format to the global esports calendar, giving players the chance to compete under their country’s flag while fans rally behind familiar colours rather than corporate logos.
The first wave of games offers a broad spread across genres and platforms. The confirmed titles are Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, EA Sports FC, Fatal Fury, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Trackmania. Together, they span classic strategy, tactical shooters, fighting games, sports simulations, mobile arenas and high-speed racing.
Even with just these eight titles, the scale is significant. Thousands of players worldwide will enter qualification routes over the coming months, all chasing a place in Riyadh.
Chess will host 128 players, making it one of the largest international events in the game’s history. Counter-Strike 2 is set for a record-breaking open qualification programme, expected to involve more than 15,000 players across 3,000 teams. Dota 2 will feature 32 national sides battling through rankings, regional qualifiers and wildcard slots.
EA Sports FC will also see 128 competitors qualify through in-game pathways, regional contests and world rankings. The new Fatal Fury title will bring 32 national representatives into a fresh format aimed at spotlighting rising talent in the fighting game scene.
Mobile titles will carry serious weight too. Honor of Kings will feature 24 elite national teams, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will host 32 sides competing for a gold medal. Trackmania rounds out the list with a 32-player national field racing in the game’s signature four-way Cup Mode.
Eight more titles are still to be announced, completing the 16-game programme for the debut edition.
With national pride now entering the digital arena, the Esports Nations Cup aims to turn keyboards, controllers and touchscreens into a new kind of flag-bearing sport.
