MultiVersus Shutters; Dev Laments Harassment

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. 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. The situation has led to negative reviews flooding Steam.

Huynh's statement acknowledged the disappointment but expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development teams, IP holders, and players. He apologized for the delayed response, citing the demanding circumstances. He highlighted the team's dedication and creativity, emphasizing that character selection involves numerous factors beyond player requests, including development time, IP approvals, and marketing opportunities. He used the example of BananaGuard's creation, illustrating the team's proactive enthusiasm. He stressed the collaborative nature of Player First Games and their commitment to player value.

Huynh appealed for understanding, acknowledging the team's shared grief and emphasizing that while players are entitled to their opinions, threats of harm are unacceptable. He urged players to reflect on the team's emotional state. He expressed hope that players would enjoy the remaining season and continue to support the platform fighter genre.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, echoed Huynh's sentiments, defending him against the threats and highlighting his dedication to the community. He underscored the team's commitment to improvements, promising substantial updates in Season 5.

MultiVersus' failure represents another setback for Warner Bros. Games, following the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that these two games resulted in a combined $300 million loss. Their 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 includes focusing development efforts on proven studios to improve success rates. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.