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 revealed that developers have received threats of harm following the announcement of the game's shutdown. Last week, Player First Games announced that Season 5 would be MultiVersus's last, with servers going offline this May, just a year after its relaunch. Offline local and training modes will remain accessible, preserving all earned and purchased content. While real-money transactions have ceased, players can still utilize Gleamium and character tokens until support ends on May 30th. The game will also be delisted from major digital stores.

The announcement, coupled with the absence of a refund policy, sparked outrage among players, particularly those who purchased the $100 Founder's Pack. Many felt "scammed," especially those with unused character tokens after unlocking all playable characters. Unsurprisingly, MultiVersus is experiencing review bombing on Steam.

Huynh addressed player concerns and condemned the threats of violence in a tweet:

Hey all, I wanted to say a few words reflecting on the recent MultiVersus news. While saddened by the outcome, I'm grateful for the opportunity from Warner Bros. Games and to every developer on the Player First Games and WB Games teams. Thank you to every IP holder for entrusting us; we hope we honored your characters authentically. I'm incredibly proud of the PFG team's creativity and passion. And a huge thank you to every player who supported MultiVersus. Delighting players is Player First Games' objective.

I apologize for the delayed response; much has been happening, focusing on the game and, now more so, the team.

Thank you for the fan art, character ideas, and personal stories—they were daily highlights.

I'm sorry we couldn't include every favorite character. Aquaman and Lola are cool; I hope you check them out. Character selection involves development time, community feedback, IP holder approvals, cross-marketing opportunities, and team inspiration.

BananaGuard, for instance, resulted from team enthusiasm—a fun, quick project. It wasn't at the expense of other characters, but born of excitement.

I don't have the power some assume. PFG is collaborative; ideas are encouraged, and we prioritize player value.

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

This is painful for everyone, including PFG. But threats of harm are unacceptable. You're entitled to your opinions, but threats cross a line. This is an extremely sad time for the team; nobody wanted this outcome.

I hope you enjoy Season 5. Please continue supporting platform fighters; these games have positively impacted me, fostering friendships and memories—something we strived to share with you in MVS.

Thank you for making this dream a reality, even if shorter than hoped. The future is uncertain, but thank you for the honor of working with PFG to serve our community.

Player First Games' Angelo Rodriguez Jr. defended Huynh, stating that threats of physical harm are unacceptable, highlighting Huynh's dedication and efforts.

MultiVersus's failure follows other setbacks for Warner Bros. Games, including Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's disastrous launch. Warner Bros. Discovery cited these failures as contributing to a $300 million loss ($200 million from Suicide Squad and $100 million from MultiVersus). Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, their only other Q3 2024 release, also underperformed.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav acknowledged the games division's underperformance, stating they are focusing on core franchises: Hogwarts Legacy (a sequel is in development), Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC (especially Batman). Recent releases include Batman: Arkham Shadow (VR) and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. Zaslav emphasized focusing development on proven franchises and studios to improve success rates. While Mortal Kombat 1’s financial performance remains uncertain, Ed Boon announced over five million sales and teased future DLC.