The game director of MultiVersus, Tony Huynh, has publicly condemned the threats of violence directed at the development team following the announcement of the game's closure. Last week, Player First Games revealed that Season 5 would be the final season, with servers shutting down this May, just a year after its relaunch. Offline access to purchased and earned content will remain via local and training modes. While in-game purchases are discontinued, players can still utilize Gleamium and character tokens until May 30th, after which the game will be delisted from major digital stores.
The announcement, coupled with the absence of a refund policy, sparked outrage among players, particularly those who purchased the $100 Founder's Pack, leading to accusations of being "scammed" and a wave of negative reviews on Steam.
Huynh's statement acknowledged the disappointment but expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development team, IP holders, and players. He apologized for the delayed response, citing the demanding situation. He highlighted the team's dedication, creativity, and responsiveness to player feedback, explaining the complexities of character selection. He emphasized that the team's efforts were not due to a lack of care but were constrained by time and resources. He directly addressed the threats of harm, stating that while criticism is acceptable, threats cross a line and are deeply upsetting to the team.
Player First Games community manager Angelo Rodriguez Jr. corroborated Huynh's statement, defending him against the personal attacks and highlighting his dedication to the game and the community. He emphasized the team's continued efforts to improve the game even in its final season.
MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which contributed to a reported $200 million loss, with MultiVersus adding another $100 million. The company's third-quarter 2024 release, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, also failed to meet expectations.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav acknowledged the underperformance of their games division, stating their focus will be on four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman. This strategy involves concentrating development efforts on proven studios and established IPs to improve the success rate. While Mortal Kombat 1 has reportedly sold over five million copies, questions remain regarding its overall financial success. The future of Rocksteady Studios, following layoffs and involvement in a Hogwarts Legacy director's cut, is also uncertain.
