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. While offline access to purchased and earned content remains via local and training modes, real-money transactions have ceased, and the game will be delisted from major digital storefronts on May 30th.

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 acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the team's dedication and creativity, thanking players for their support and fan contributions. He explained the complexities of character selection, citing factors like development time, community feedback, IP holder approvals, and marketing opportunities. He also addressed the team's enthusiasm behind the creation of unexpected characters like BananaGuard.

Importantly, Huynh appealed for understanding, stating that while players are entitled to their opinions, threats of harm are unacceptable and deeply hurtful to the team. Angelo Rodriguez Jr., a community manager and developer, echoed this sentiment, defending Huynh against the personal attacks and highlighting his dedication to the community.

MultiVersus' closure represents another significant setback for Warner Bros. Games, following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that these two titles contributed to a combined $300 million loss. This financial downturn, coupled with the underwhelming performance of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, prompted Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to acknowledge the underperformance of their games division.

In response, the company is reportedly focusing its development efforts on four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman. This strategy includes recent releases like Batman: Arkham Shadow for Meta Quest 3 and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. Zaslav emphasized a focus on proven studios and core franchises to improve the success rate of future game releases. While the financial performance of Mortal Kombat 1 remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and hinted at future DLC.