The game director of MultiVersus, Tony Huynh, has 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, Gleamium and character tokens remain usable until May 30th. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts.
The announcement, coupled with the absence of a refund policy, sparked outrage among players, particularly those who purchased the $100 Founder's Pack, with many expressing feelings of being "scammed." Reports of unused character tokens and negative Steam reviews followed.
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 focus on the team during this challenging period. He highlighted fan contributions, expressed regret about unmet character requests, and explained the multifaceted process of character selection. He emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games and the team's efforts to listen to player feedback.
Critically, Huynh called out the threats of harm, stating that while players are entitled to their opinions, threats cross a line and are unacceptable, especially given the team's emotional distress. He urged players to show empathy and consideration. Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, echoed this sentiment, defending Huynh and highlighting his dedication and efforts.
MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which contributed to a $200 million loss, with MultiVersus adding another $100 million. The company's third-quarter 2024 release, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, also underperformed.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav acknowledged the underperformance of the games division and announced a renewed focus on four key franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman. Recent releases include the VR title Batman: Arkham Shadow and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. The future of other titles, including Mortal Kombat 1 (despite over five million sales and planned DLC), remains uncertain. Zaslav emphasized a strategy of concentrating development on established franchises with proven studios to improve their success rate.
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