"MultiVersus Dev Mourns Shutdown, Raises Concerns about 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 the 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 no longer available, players can still utilize Gleamium and character tokens until support ends on May 30th. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts.

The announcement, coupled with the lack of a refund policy, sparked outrage among players, particularly those who purchased the $100 Founder's Pack, with many expressing feelings of being "scammed." Online reports highlight significant player frustration, especially concerning the now-useless character tokens for those who had already unlocked all characters. Unsurprisingly, MultiVersus is experiencing a wave of negative reviews on Steam.

Huynh's statement addressed these concerns while strongly condemning the threats: He expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development teams, IP holders, and players. He apologized for the delayed response, citing the intense focus on the team and game. He highlighted player contributions like fan art and character suggestions as daily highlights for the team. He explained the complex factors influencing character selection, including development time, community feedback, IP holder approvals, and marketing opportunities. He emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games and the team's commitment to listening to and acting on player feedback, acknowledging limitations in time and resources. He acknowledged the sadness surrounding the game's closure, pleading for players to refrain from threats of violence. He expressed hope that players would continue to support other platform fighters.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, defended Huynh on social media, highlighting his dedication and efforts to engage with the community. He underscored that threats of violence are unacceptable.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that the failures of both Suicide Squad and MultiVersus 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. Recent releases include the VR title Batman: Arkham Shadow and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. Zaslav stated their intention to concentrate development efforts on these established franchises with proven studios to improve their success rate. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.