The game director of MultiVersus, Tony Huynh, has publicly addressed 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. While offline local and training modes will remain accessible, along with previously purchased content, real-money transactions have ceased, and the game will be delisted from major digital storefronts on May 30th.
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 acknowledges the disappointment but expresses gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development team, IP holders, and players. He apologizes for the delayed response, citing the demanding situation and focuses on supporting his team. He highlights the team's dedication and creativity, emphasizing that character selection involves numerous factors beyond simple community demand. He specifically explains the addition of BananaGuard as a result of team enthusiasm, not at the expense of other characters.
Huynh stresses the collaborative nature of Player First Games and clarifies his limited influence. He acknowledges the team's efforts to listen to player feedback while acknowledging constraints of time and resources. However, he strongly condemns the threats of violence, urging players to show empathy during this difficult time for the team.
Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and game developer, further defended Huynh, highlighting his dedication and commitment to the community, emphasizing that threats of violence are unacceptable. He underscores the team's continued efforts to improve the game, even in its final season.
MultiVersus's failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poorly received launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. Warner Bros. Discovery's financial reports revealed 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 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 on proven studios to improve the success rate. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.
