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 local and training modes will remain accessible, online features and real-money transactions ceased. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts.

The announcement sparked outrage among players, particularly those who purchased the premium Founder's Pack, with many expressing feelings of being "scammed" due to the lack of a refund policy and rendered-useless character tokens for players who had already unlocked all characters. The game is consequently experiencing a wave of negative reviews on Steam.

Huynh's statement acknowledges the disappointment, expresses gratitude to the team, IP holders, and players, and apologizes for the delayed response. He explains the complexities of character selection, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the development process and the team's passion. He also clarifies that he doesn't possess the authority some players assume and reiterates the team's efforts to listen to player feedback. Crucially, Huynh condemns the threats of harm, pleading for understanding and empathy during this difficult time for the team.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, further defended Huynh on social media, highlighting Huynh's dedication and commitment to the community, emphasizing that threats of violence are unacceptable. He also reiterated the team's hard work on Season 5 and urged players to consider Huynh's perspective.

MultiVersus's failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and the underwhelming launch of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. Warner Bros. Discovery reported significant financial losses attributed to these games, totaling $300 million.

In response, Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly refocusing its game development strategy, prioritizing four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC properties, particularly Batman. This includes the recent release of Batman: Arkham Shadow for Meta Quest 3 and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. The company aims to improve its success rate by concentrating efforts on established franchises and proven studios. While the financial performance of Mortal Kombat 1 remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios has reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.