The games industry is already facing many challenges in 2025 and Warner Bros. Games has now confirmed it's shutting down three studios including Monolith Productions, known for its work on series' like Middle-earth.
This also marks the end of the developer's Wonder Woman game which has been in development for multiple years now. Along with this is the closure of Player First Games (MultiVersus) and Warner Bros. San Diego, which also had its own game in the pipeline.
This news follows what's apparently been a "disappointing 2024" for the Warner Bros. games division. Website Kotaku received the following statement from the company and its plans going forward:
"We have had to make some very difficult decisions to structure our development studios and investments around building the best games possible with our key franchises -– Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC and Game of Thrones. After careful consideration, we are closing three of our development studios – Monolith Productions, Player First Games and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. This is a strategic change in direction and not a reflection of these teams or the talent that consists within them."
Earlier this month it was revealed MultiVersus would be going offline on May 30th forXbox and other platforms.
If we hear anything else, we'll let you know. How do you feel about this news? Tell us in the comments.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 29
Suicide squad was that big a disaster huh?
All US studios. I wouldn't be surprised if they pursue cheaper labor in other countries.
Really? A Wonder Woman video game would generate more hype than a Game of Thrones video game.
Btw, where are the older Harry Potter games? I would love to be able to play Prisoner of Azkaban again.
I don't know what's more sad like the thought of never going to play the likes of Shadow of war or mordor or having no way of playing anything with the legendary nemesis system. If they were deep in this mess because of Rocksteady should have closed them not Monolith. What a bummer.
Their games have been underwhelming the last 5 years or so. I am not surprised. They needed to emulate their formula.
@dreadful And yet Rocksteady (the studio that made said SS game) escaped unscathed.
Kinda makes you wonder what kind of traumatic brain injury the people in charge at WB have, doesn’t it?
Sad. Shadow of War is one of my favorite open world games.
Still waiting for an open world GoT games. It's crazy we haven't got one yet.
The mobile one looks really good. Something like that on consoles would be a gold mine.
So does this mean that WB is going to let other studios use the Nemesis System since they arent using it?
@dreadful Nah since WB merged with Discovery they dont know what the hell they are doing and just like axing stuff.
The only Monolith game I've played is Septerra Core. It was alright.
Said it a million times - the industry is extremely harsh these last few years and it's only getting costlier. The survival of a studio can hinge on a game not performing well, not getting games out at an expected pace, or anything between. It takes just one flop to shutter studios that have been open for decades. It's a shame, but it is what it is.
Curious about WB priorities in regards to their IP though. I mean, Game of Thrones? They've only released like, two games based on the IP and neither were massive hits...
Either which way either or, this is another few studios on the back of several layoffs lately (Crytek, and the fact they put Crysis 4 on hold recently). It's why I firmly believe MS are making the right call hitting up multiplatform releases for a lot of their games - as are dominant third party publishers (Square). The market is ferocious, and the more income the better all round. It makes sense in a market that is ridiculously expensive. They may be the first, but they wont be the last.
@BacklogBrad exactly. Similar to what happened to Marvel Rivals
Always sad to see games get cancelled and studios closed. Got to be hard to work on something for years that never sees the light of day and then get fired to boot. Wishing all the devs well.
@Misternobody Marvel Rivals was a 6 person team that was laid off, the story was grossly exaggerated.
@BacklogBrad All WB studios are currently in the US, Canada or UK.
I have fond memories from Monolith cause it never felt like they were following the AAA train, and that was AMAZING!
Each game had some particularities that differentiated them from the crowd.
Shogo: Mechas and Anime style
NOLF: Amazing story, gadgets and environmental events that would turn the tides of the combat
FEAR: Oh, my, I LOVE these games. One of the most impressive AIs I've ever seen, destructible scenario, slow-mo, and the supernatural mojo
Shadow of... Series: combat, story, the nemesis system. I would never get bored with the encounters
Blood 2: Ok, not the most innovative but still, super gore, silly fun, like a B movie
I'd love to see some remakes coming - even though NOLF is a big ask due to rights restrictions.
Best of luck to the whole team and hopefully we will see great things coming from them very soon.
More people out of work in an industry that's chewing people up. I think WB games won't last much longer. They've got a lot of value in their IP but not much in their actual game franchises.
@themightyant 100% agree. I mentioned them 'cause it gave the impression that once the core of the game was done, they got rid of the creative team, moving it to "mass production" with all those season pass we already know. Even better: season pass 1.5
I was so looking forward to Wonder Woman... Damn it WB!
Kinda makes me wonder why people would want to go into game development.
What is this? Another Western development studio shuddered? More layoffs? Well Im shocked.
People seemingly wanting Rocksteady closed and wondering why they didn't get put on the chopping block......Probably because Rocksteady made three brilliant games before they where FORCED to make a live service game
@StylesT The people here hoping for any studio to be shut down so that people lose their livelihoods are genuinely deranged in my opinion.
> David Zaslav joins WB after the Discovery merger
> WB stuff starts doing poorly
Gee, I wonder what could’ve caused all of this?
@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah. With all the crunch culture, employee abuse and mass layoffs I’m glad I didn’t go to school for game development like I wanted to. I kinda prefer just having game dev as a hobby and making my own things anyway.
Just shows that the gaming business is not all fun and games… too much corporate types in it for the money and squeezing out the creative types just wanting to make good games
News of layoffs (affecting most devs) at the studio that made Callisto Protocol also announced today :/ it just keeps going and going.
Didn't Monolith develop F.E.A.R. and Condemned? Two great games.
@tobsesta99 whoops forgot to reply. Well here’s hoping that you can make a nice independent project.
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