MultiVersus Dev Calls Out ‘Threats to Harm’ Following Shutdown Announcement: ‘I Am in Deep Mourning for the Game’

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 MultiVersus' final season, with servers shutting down this May, just a year after its relaunch. While offline access to purchased and earned content remains via local and training modes, real-money transactions have ceased. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts on May 30th.

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 circumstances and the team's well-being as priorities. He highlighted the team's dedication, creativity, and responsiveness to player feedback, while also explaining the complexities involved in character selection. He emphasized that the decision to shut down the game was not due to a lack of care or effort. Crucially, he strongly condemned the threats of harm leveled against the team.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., a community manager and developer, echoed Huynh's sentiments, defending him against the personal attacks and highlighting the team's dedication to the game.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. These setbacks, costing Warner Bros. Discovery an estimated $300 million ($200 million from Suicide Squad and $100 million from MultiVersus), contributed to the departure of Warner Bros. Games boss David Haddad. The company's third-quarter 2024 release, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, also underperformed.

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 involves concentrating development efforts on established franchises and proven studios. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains unclear, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC. The company recently released the VR title Batman: Arkham Shadow for Meta Quest 3 and is developing a Wonder Woman game.