Rocksteady Suffers Further Layoffs Following Suicide Squad's Underperformance
Rocksteady Studios, renowned for the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, has experienced another wave of layoffs, following the disappointing performance of its latest title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The game's mixed reception and underwhelming sales have significantly impacted the studio.
The initial blow came in September, with reports indicating a 50% reduction in the QA team. This latest round of job cuts, however, extends beyond QA, affecting programming and art departments as well. Multiple anonymous sources, speaking to Eurogamer, confirmed their recent terminations. Warner Bros. remains silent on these developments, mirroring their response to the earlier layoffs.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League proved to be a costly venture for both Rocksteady and its parent company, WB Games. Warner Bros. publicly acknowledged the game's failure to meet sales expectations earlier this year. The financial strain, coupled with the game's less-than-stellar reception, appears to be the driving force behind these staffing reductions.
The impact isn't limited to Rocksteady. WB Games Montreal, the studio behind Gotham Knights and Batman: Arkham Origins, also experienced layoffs in December, reportedly affecting QA staff who contributed to Suicide Squad's post-launch content. The final DLC, featuring Deathstroke, launched on December 10th. With one last update planned for later this month, the future of Rocksteady remains uncertain.
The underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League casts a shadow on Rocksteady's impressive track record. The significant layoffs serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in the video game industry, particularly with high-budget, live-service titles.
