The game director of MultiVersus, Tony Huynh, has publicly denounced 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 can still be used 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. Many feel cheated, especially those with unused character tokens after unlocking all playable characters. Consequently, MultiVersus is experiencing negative reviews on Steam.
Huynh's statement addressed player concerns and condemned the threats: He 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 and creativity, emphasizing that character selection involves various factors beyond simple community requests. He explained the development process, citing BananaGuard as an example of a character born from team enthusiasm, not at the expense of others. He clarified his limited authority within the collaborative team. He acknowledged player feedback and limitations in time and resources. Finally, he strongly condemned the threats of harm, pleading for understanding and empathy for the team's emotional distress.
Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, defended Huynh on X/Twitter, highlighting Huynh's dedication and commitment to the community, emphasizing that threats of violence are unacceptable. He underscored the team's hard work and expressed hope that players would enjoy Season 5.
MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent setbacks, following the poor launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. The departure of Warner Bros. Games boss David Haddad further highlights the company's struggles. Warner Bros. Discovery reported a $200 million loss due to Suicide Squad and a further $100 million loss attributed to MultiVersus. The underwhelming performance of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions during the third quarter of 2024 further exemplifies the company's challenges.
David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO, acknowledged the underperformance of the 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 with proven studios to improve success rates. The recent release of Batman: Arkham Shadow for Meta Quest 3 and a forthcoming Wonder Woman game reflect this strategic shift.
