Today, Warner Bros. Gamesofficially confirmed reportsthat WB is effectively shutting down WB San Diego, Player First Games, and Monolith Productions as well as canceling their still-in-developmentWonder Woman game.
Warner Bros. Discovery Lost $300 Million On Gaming In 2024
Thecritical and commercial failure of last year’s Suicide Squad gameas well as the lack of success of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions and MultiVersusdirectly led to the stepping down of David Haddadas the head of Warner Bros. Games earlier this January.
Warner Bros. Games provided the following statement today:
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. This is a strategic change in direction and not a reflection of these teams or the talent that consists within them.
Despite naming DC (Detective Comics) as part oftheir key franchises in which WB is supposedly invested in continuing to build games, the closing of Monolith Productions and the cancelation of their upcoming Wonder Woman title only brings up further questions.
Warner Bros.’s statement about the developing title, at the time of writing three years past its official reveal and announcement back in 2021, remained vague.
“The development of Monolith’s Wonder Woman videogame will not move forward. Our hope was to give players and fans the highest quality experience possible for the iconic character, and unfortunately this is no longer possible within our strategic priorities,” they added.
Warner Bros. Games was reportedly counting on both Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League and their brand-representing fighting game, Multiversus, to make consistent revenue for the company throughout 2024.
Instead, both titles saw catastrophic drops in their player bases, leading to a $200 million USD writedown accompanied by an end in support for the two titles.
Despite the critical and commercial success of 2023’s Hogwarts Legacy, 2024’s Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions led to a $100 million USD writedown, adding to WB Discovery’s overall $300 million USD loss in their gaming division last year.
The Upcoming Wonder Woman Game Was Rebooted And Switched Directors Just One Year Ago
Monolith Production’s Wonder Woman game might have been seen as an upcoming Hogwarts Legacy-style success for Warner Bros. if it wasn’t for the various reports about its troubled development.
Three years in and over $100 million USD supposedly spent on it at the time of its cancelation, Warner Bros. likely saw the title as a riskier venture than they are willing to entertain at the moment.
The game was meant to use the patented Nemesis System created for Monolith Productions’Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor(2014) andMiddle Earth: Shadow of War(2017) titles.
Only time will tell if the studio shakeups will help Warner Bros. Games return to their desired profitability.
Warner Bros. Gaming Pushes for New Hogwarts Legacy Content and a Fresh Title Amidst Struggles
Warner Bros. Gaming is going through a tough time. However, with the upcoming restructure, the studio looks forward to more of Hogwarts Legacy content
