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 the game's final season, with servers shutting down this May, just a year after its relaunch. Offline access to purchased and earned content will remain via local and training modes.

While in-game purchases are discontinued, players can still utilize Gleamium and character tokens until support ends on May 30th. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts.

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 team's sadness but expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the contributions of developers and IP holders. He highlighted the team's dedication and creativity, thanking players for their support and feedback. He addressed concerns about character selection, explaining the complex process involving development time, community feedback, IP approvals, and marketing opportunities. He clarified that the addition of characters like BananaGuard was driven by team enthusiasm and didn't come at the expense of other characters.

Huynh emphasized the collaborative nature of Player First Games and their commitment to listening to player feedback, while acknowledging limitations in time and resources. He strongly condemned the threats of harm, urging players to understand the team's distress and mourning over the game's closure. He expressed hope that players would continue supporting the platform fighter genre.

Player First Games' community manager, Angelo Rodriguez Jr., also defended Huynh, highlighting his dedication and efforts to engage with the community, emphasizing that threats of violence are unacceptable.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League last year. Warner Bros. Discovery reported that these two game failures resulted in a combined $300 million loss. The company's third-quarter 2024 release, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, also underperformed.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav acknowledged the underperformance of their games business 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 involves concentrating development efforts on proven studios and franchises to improve success rates. While Mortal Kombat 1's financial performance remains uncertain, NetherRealm Studios reported over five million sales and teased future DLC.

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