'MVS Developer Expresses Deep Grief Over Closure Announcement and Condemns Threats.'

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 MultiVersus' final season, with servers shutting down this May, just a year after its relaunch. While offline access to purchased and earned content will remain via local and training modes, real-money transactions have ceased. The game will also 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 acknowledged the disappointment but expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development teams, IP holders, and players. He apologized for the delayed response, citing the focus on the team amidst the challenging circumstances. He highlighted the team's dedication, creativity, and the joy derived from player feedback, fan art, and character suggestions. He explained the complexities of character selection, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the development process and the factors influencing decisions, including development time, community feedback, IP holder approvals, marketing opportunities, and team inspiration. He used the example of BananaGuard, a character developed due to team enthusiasm, to illustrate this point.

Huynh stressed his limited authority within the highly collaborative team, emphasizing their commitment to listening to player feedback and acting upon it within the constraints of time and resources. He appealed for understanding and empathy, condemning the threats of harm as unacceptable, highlighting the emotional toll on the team. He expressed hope that players would continue to support the platform fighter genre and find joy in their MultiVersus memories.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., a community manager and developer, further defended Huynh, emphasizing his dedication and the team's hard work, urging players to consider the impact of their actions and to appreciate the effort put into Season 5.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year and the departure of Warner Bros. Games boss David Haddad. Warner Bros. Discovery reported significant financial losses attributed to these two games, totaling $300 million. 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. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC. The company is prioritizing proven studios and core franchises to improve its success rate.