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 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 halted, Gleamium and character tokens remain usable until May 30th, after which the game will be delisted from major digital stores.

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. He acknowledged the disappointment and apologized for a delayed response, highlighting the team's dedication and the joy derived from player feedback, fan art, and character suggestions. He explained the complex factors influencing character selection, including development time, community feedback, IP approvals, marketing opportunities, and team inspiration, citing BananaGuard as an example of a character born from team enthusiasm. He emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games (PFG) and the team's efforts to listen to and act on player feedback, while acknowledging limitations in time and resources. He concluded by pleading for understanding, emphasizing the team's deep sadness and urging players to refrain from violence or threats.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., PFG's community manager, echoed Huynh's sentiments, defending him against the personal attacks and highlighting his dedication and efforts to engage with the community. He underscored the team's commitment to the game and the substantial improvements planned for Season 5.

MultiVersus' failure represents another setback for Warner Bros. Games, following the disastrous launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year and the recent departure of Warner Bros. Games boss David Haddad. Warner Bros. Discovery reported a $200 million loss attributed to Suicide Squad and a further $100 million loss from MultiVersus. 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 (including the recent release of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR). While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC. Zaslav emphasized a strategic shift towards proven studios and core franchises to improve the success rate of future game releases.

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