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 MultiVersus' 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, after which the game will 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, leading to accusations of being "scammed" and a wave of negative reviews on Steam.
Huynh's statement addressed player concerns and strongly denounced the threats: He expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development team, IP holders, and players, highlighting the team's dedication and creativity. He apologized for delayed communication, explained the complexities of character selection, and acknowledged the team's efforts to listen to player feedback. He emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games and the limitations imposed by time and resources. Crucially, he condemned the threats of harm, urging players to show empathy for the team during this difficult time.
Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, echoed Huynh's sentiments, defending him against the personal attacks and highlighting his dedication and efforts to engage with the community. He stressed that threats of violence are unacceptable and urged players to consider the team's perspective.
MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poor reception of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that these two titles contributed to a combined $300 million loss. 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 and announced a renewed focus on four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman. This strategy includes focusing development efforts on proven studios to improve the success rate. While Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's post-launch content has concluded, and questions remain about Mortal Kombat 1's long-term performance (despite over five million sales reported by NetherRealm's Ed Boon), Warner Bros. is clearly shifting its strategy towards established IPs and proven development teams.
