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 the 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 no longer possible, Gleamium and character tokens can still be used until May 30th, after which the game will be delisted from major digital storefronts.

The announcement, coupled with the lack 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 player concerns and condemned the threats:

"Hey all, I wanted to say a few words...While I'm sad about the outcome, I will forever be grateful...Also to every IP holder thank you for entrusting us...I couldn’t be prouder of the work the PFG team did. I apologize for not addressing things sooner...Thank you for sending us all the great fan art...I’m sorry if we couldn’t get to your favorite character...I don’t have the power some you think I do...I also hope that the community notices that we try to listen and act...I know that this is painful for everyone...but I have to call this out, you’re entitled to what you say and think, but when there are threats to harm it’s crossing the line...Nobody wanted this outcome and it wasn’t from lack of caring or effort...I sincerely hope that Season 5 is enjoyed...I hope that we played a small part and that you can look back on MVS and find some joy...It has been an honor to work alongside the team at PFG to serve our community and players."

Player First Games' Angelo Rodriguez Jr. further defended Huynh, highlighting the unwarranted threats and emphasizing the team's dedication. He recounted Huynh's commitment to the community and the extensive work undertaken for Season 5.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poor reception of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Warner Bros. Discovery reported a combined $300 million loss attributed to these two titles, alongside the underwhelming performance of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, acknowledged the underperformance of their games division.

Subsequently, post-launch content for Suicide Squad ended, and Rocksteady's next project remains unannounced, although they are reportedly assisting with a Hogwarts Legacy director's cut. While Mortal Kombat 1 has reportedly sold over five million copies, its overall financial success is still uncertain.

Zaslav announced a renewed focus on four core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (with a sequel in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman (including the recent release of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR and an upcoming Wonder Woman game). The strategy emphasizes proven studios and core franchises to improve the success rate of future game releases.