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 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. 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. Many feel cheated, especially those with unused character tokens after unlocking all playable characters. Unsurprisingly, MultiVersus is experiencing negative review-bombing on Steam.

Huynh's statement addressed player concerns and explicitly denounced the threats:

"Hey all, I wanted to say a few words reflecting on the recent MultiVersus news. While saddened by the outcome, I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity from Warner Bros. Games and every developer at Player First Games and WB Games. Thank you to every IP holder for entrusting us; we strived for authenticity. I'm incredibly proud of the PFG team's creativity and passion. And thank you to every player who played or supported MultiVersus. Player First Games' objective is to delight and serve players.

I apologize for the delayed response; much has been happening, and my focus has been on the team.

Thank you for the fan art, character ideas, and stories. They were daily highlights.

I'm sorry we couldn't include every requested character. Character selection involves development time, community feedback, IP holder approvals, cross-marketing opportunities, and team inspiration. BananaGuard, for example, arose from team enthusiasm, not at the expense of other characters.

I don't possess the power some believe. PFG is highly collaborative, encouraging ideas from everyone.

We strive to listen and act, but time and resources are limited.

This is painful for everyone at PFG. However, while opinions are valid, threats of harm are unacceptable. This is an extremely sad time for the team. Nobody wanted this outcome.

I hope Season 5 is enjoyed. Please continue supporting platform fighters; they've positively impacted me. I hope you cherish the friendships and memories made in MVS.

Thank you for making this dream a reality. I don't know what the future holds, but thank you for the honor."

Angelo Rodriguez Jr., community manager and developer, defended Huynh on X/Twitter, emphasizing that threats of harm are unacceptable. He highlighted Huynh's dedication and efforts to engage with the community.

MultiVersus' failure follows other setbacks for Warner Bros. Games, including Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's disastrous launch and the departure of David Haddad. Warner Bros. Discovery reported a $200 million loss due to Suicide Squad, with MultiVersus adding another $100 million. Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions also underperformed.

David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, acknowledged the underperformance of the games division and announced a focus on core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman. Recent releases include Batman: Arkham Shadow (VR) and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. Zaslav emphasized focusing development on proven studios and franchises to improve success rates. While Mortal Kombat 1 sales exceeded five million, questions remain about its overall financial performance.