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 denounced 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 available via local and training modes. While in-game purchases are halted, Gleamium and character tokens can still be used until May 30th, after which the game 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 a wave of negative reviews on Steam.

Huynh's statement addressed these concerns while condemning the threats: He expressed gratitude towards Warner Bros. Games, the development teams, IP holders, and players. He apologized for the delayed response, citing the focus on the team amidst the challenging circumstances. He highlighted the team's dedication and creativity, acknowledging player feedback and the limitations of time and resources. He emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games and the process of character selection, citing factors such as development time, community feedback, IP approvals, and marketing opportunities. He specifically mentioned the creation of BananaGuard as an example of a character born from team enthusiasm, not at the expense of others. He stressed that he lacked the power some players attributed to him and pleaded for understanding and empathy, urging players to reconsider the threats of harm directed at the team.

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, echoed Huynh's sentiments on X/Twitter, defending Huynh against the threats and highlighting his dedication and efforts to engage with the community.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent setbacks, following the poorly received launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. These two titles contributed to a reported $300 million loss for Warner Bros. Discovery, further exacerbated by the underperformance of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. 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 strategy includes focusing development efforts on proven studios to improve the success rate. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC. The future of Rocksteady Studios, following layoffs and involvement in a Hogwarts Legacy director's cut, remains uncertain.