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 denounced threats of violence against the development team following the announcement of the game's closure. Player First Games revealed last week that Season 5 would be the 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, Gleamium and character tokens remain usable until May 30th, after which MultiVersus will be delisted from major digital stores.

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 review bombing on Steam.

Huynh's statement addressed player concerns and condemned the threats: He expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development team, IP holders, and players. He apologized for a delayed response, highlighting the team's focus on the game and, subsequently, their well-being. He acknowledged fan contributions and explained the complex factors influencing character selection, emphasizing the team's collaborative spirit and player-centric approach. He stressed his limited authority within the highly collaborative Player First Games structure. Finally, he pleaded for empathy, acknowledging the team's sadness and the unforeseen outcome, while condemning threats of harm.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, corroborated Huynh's statement, defending him against the threats and highlighting his dedication and efforts. He emphasized the team's commitment to the game and the substantial improvements in Season 5.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, contributing to a reported $300 million loss ($200 million from Suicide Squad and $100 million from MultiVersus). The underperformance prompted the departure of Warner Bros. Games boss David Haddad and led Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to acknowledge the division's underperformance. Zaslav announced a renewed focus on four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman (including the recently released VR title, Batman: Arkham Shadow, and a forthcoming Wonder Woman game). The future of other titles, including a potential sequel to Mortal Kombat 1, remains uncertain.