Warner Bros. has made significant changes to its gaming division following a rough financial year. The company announced the closure of three video game studios and the cancellation of the highly anticipated Wonder Woman game after its gaming division faced losses amounting to $300 million (roughly Rs. 2,627 crore) in 2024. This restructuring reflects Warner Bros.’ shift toward focusing on its more prominent gaming franchises.

Studio Closures and Strategic Shift

The studios affected by the shutdown include Monolith Productions, the developer behind Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, Player First Games, known for creating the free-to-play MultiVersus, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. The decision was revealed on Wednesday, with Warner Bros. Games stating that this change is part of a broader strategy to concentrate on larger, more established franchises such as Harry Potter, Batman, Mortal Kombat, and Game of Thrones.

JB Perrette, Warner Bros.’s games and streaming chief, expressed dissatisfaction with recent releases in an internal memo, saying, “The quality of too many of our new releases has really missed the mark.” He went on to emphasize the need for substantial changes to Warner Bros.’s game portfolio and team structure to focus on a “fewer but bigger franchises” approach.

Wonder Woman Game Canceled

One of the most notable casualties of the restructuring is the Wonder Woman game, which had been under development by Monolith Productions. The title, which had been in development for years, was already a significant investment, with Warner Bros. spending over $100 million (roughly Rs. 875 crore) on its creation before it was rebooted in 2024. However, Warner Bros. confirmed that the project would no longer move forward as part of its revised strategy.

In a statement, Warner Bros. Games clarified, “The development of Monolith’s Wonder Woman video game will not move forward. Our hope was to give players the highest quality experience possible, but unfortunately, this is no longer possible within our strategic priorities.”

The company praised Monolith’s legacy of delivering fan-favorite titles like Fear and Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, acknowledging the talent and passion of the studio’s employees.

MultiVersus and Other Underperforming Titles

MultiVersus, a free-to-play crossover fighting game developed by Player First Games, was another project that contributed to Warner Bros.’s losses in 2024. Despite a strong start, the game failed to sustain long-term success and ultimately cost the company $100 million. Last month, WB Games announced the end of MultiVersus development, with the game’s final season set to conclude in May 2024, after which the title will be taken offline.

Another significant loss came from Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The live-service game failed to attract a steady player base, leading to the cancellation of content updates a year after its launch in January 2024. Rocksteady, now under pressure to regain its former glory, is reportedly eyeing a return to single-player, story-driven games, potentially with a new Batman title.

A Bleak Future for Warner Bros. Games?

The news of studio closures and canceled projects leaves Warner Bros. with a thinner slate of upcoming games. With several high-profile titles, including a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy and new DC Universe games, still years away from release, the company’s immediate future in gaming looks uncertain.

James Gunn, head of DC Studios, recently mentioned that a DC Universe video game is still “a couple of years” away, further extending the wait for fans eager for new content in the DC universe.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setbacks, Warner Bros. remains hopeful about the future of its gaming division. The company has committed to restructuring its development teams and focusing resources on its most successful franchises. The goal is to return to profitability and growth by 2025, with the hope that fewer but larger titles will help the company recover.

While these changes mark a difficult chapter for Warner Bros. Games, they reflect the company’s ongoing effort to refine its focus and deliver the best possible gaming experiences for its audience. For fans, the next few years could bring exciting new releases—if Warner Bros. can get its house in order.