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 game's 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, 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 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." Online reports highlight significant player dissatisfaction, especially concerning the now-useless character tokens for players who had already unlocked all characters. Unsurprisingly, MultiVersus is experiencing negative review-bombing on Steam.
Huynh's statement addressed player concerns and strongly condemned the threats: He expressed gratitude to Warner Bros. Games, the development teams, IP holders, and players. He apologized for a delayed response, citing the demanding circumstances. He highlighted the team's dedication and creativity, acknowledged player feedback, and explained the complex factors influencing character selection. He emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games and the team's efforts to listen and respond to the community. He concluded by expressing deep sadness over the game's closure and pleading for players to refrain from violence and threats.
Player First Games' community manager, Angelo Rodriguez Jr., further defended Huynh, highlighting his dedication and commitment to the players and team, and reiterated the condemnation of threats.
MultiVersus' failure represents another significant setback for Warner Bros. Games, following the poor launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that these two game failures resulted in a combined $300 million loss. The company's third-quarter 2024 release, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, also underperformed.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav 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. Recent releases include the VR title Batman: Arkham Shadow and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. Zaslav emphasized a strategy of concentrating development efforts on these established franchises with proven studios. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.
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