Mortal Kombat 1 continues to illustrate that gross microtransactions work
Mortal Kombat 1 has been out for a while now, with the blood and guts gushing forth from its brutal battles evoking joy in the numerous fans who've rushed to swim around in the viscera. Though, while the base game is good, its post-launch microtransactions have rubbed folks the wrong way.
Sadly, it seems like this predatory practice of nickel and diming people for additional content has played a part in a "meaningful" growth in Warner Bros' gaming revenue. This information comes from the company's 2023 Q3 financial report, in which it's reported that Mortal Kombat 1, in combination with continued sales of Hogwarts Legacy, has contributed to an overall rise in content reveune.
Reading further into the report reveals just how significant this contribution is. As you likely know, actors that are members of the unions SAG-AFTRA and the WGA have recently been striking over various issues affection their profession, including protections against AI and a the need for a pay increase in line with the cost-of-living. In this financial report, the effects of these strikes are made clear: "TV revenue declined significantly primarily due to certain large licensing deals in the prior year and the impact of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes"