Suicide Squad Studio Reports Further Job Cuts Amid Restructuring

Rocksteady Faces Further Layoffs Following Suicide Squad's Underperformance

Rocksteady Studios, renowned for the Batman: Arkham series, has experienced a second wave of layoffs, following the disappointing performance of its latest title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The game's mixed reception and divisive post-launch content led to the initial cuts in September, impacting approximately half of the QA team.

This latest round of job losses, reported by Eurogamer, extends to Rocksteady's programming and art departments, occurring just as 2024 concluded. Several anonymous employees confirmed their dismissals, highlighting the ongoing repercussions of Suicide Squad's underperformance. Warner Bros. remains silent on these recent developments, mirroring their response to the September layoffs.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League proved financially challenging for both Rocksteady and its parent company, WB Games, falling short of sales expectations. The game's poor sales figures, revealed in February, directly contributed to the initial staff reductions.

The ripple effect extends beyond Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, the studio behind Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights, also experienced layoffs in December, primarily affecting QA staff who supported Suicide Squad's post-launch DLC. The final DLC, featuring Deathstroke, launched on December 10th. While a final update for Suicide Squad is expected later this month, the studio's future plans remain uncertain. The game's commercial failure casts a shadow over Rocksteady's impressive track record of critically acclaimed DC games.