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 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. Offline access to purchased and earned content will remain through local and training modes. While in-game purchases are discontinued, Gleamium and character tokens remain usable until May 30th. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts.

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 addressed player concerns and strongly denounced the threats: He expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development team, IP holders, and players, acknowledging the team's dedication and creativity. He apologized for the delayed response, citing the demanding circumstances and the team's well-being as priorities. He highlighted the team's responsiveness to player feedback and explained the multifaceted process of character selection, emphasizing the balance between development time, community requests, IP approvals, marketing opportunities, and team inspiration. He specifically mentioned BananaGuard as an example of a character developed organically from team enthusiasm. He reiterated the collaborative nature of Player First Games and stressed that he lacks the unilateral power some players assume.

Huynh concluded by expressing his deep sadness over the game's closure, emphasizing that it wasn't due to a lack of care or effort, and urged players to refrain from violence and threats. He encouraged continued support for platform fighters and fighting games, reflecting on the positive impacts these genres have had on him and the team's desire to share that experience with players.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, echoed Huynh's sentiments on X/Twitter, defending him against the threats and highlighting his dedication and commitment to the community. He emphasized the team's hard work and hoped players would enjoy Season 5.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poor launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year and the departure of Warner Bros. Games boss David Haddad. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that these two titles contributed to a combined $300 million loss. Their only new release in Q3 2024, 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 includes the recent release of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. Zaslav stated that they are concentrating development efforts on these established franchises with proven studios to improve their success rate. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance is still uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.