MultiVersus Dev Calls Out ‘Threats to Harm’ Following Shutdown Announcement: ‘I Am in Deep Mourning for the Game’

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 access to purchased and earned content remains 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 and now possess unusable character tokens. This resulted in negative reviews flooding Steam.

Huynh's statement acknowledged the disappointment, expressed gratitude to the team, IP holders, and players, and apologized for the delayed response. He highlighted the team's dedication and creativity, emphasizing the collaborative nature of development and the factors influencing character selection. He specifically addressed the creation of BananaGuard, clarifying it wasn't at the expense of other characters but rather a product of team enthusiasm. He also stressed the team's efforts to listen to player feedback, acknowledging limitations in time and resources.

Crucially, Huynh condemned the threats of harm, stating that while players are entitled to their opinions, threats cross a line and are unacceptable given the team's emotional distress. He urged players to show empathy and consideration for the team during this difficult time.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, echoed Huynh's sentiments on X/Twitter, defending Huynh against the attacks and highlighting his dedication to the game and the community.

MultiVersus's failure represents another significant setback for Warner Bros. Games, following the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Warner Bros. Discovery reported a combined $300 million loss attributed to these two titles. 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 strategic refocusing on four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman. This includes recent releases like Batman: Arkham Shadow (VR) and upcoming projects like a Wonder Woman game. Zaslav emphasized a commitment to proven studios and core franchises to improve the success rate of future game releases. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.