Overview
- David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Games, will be departing the company following the disappointing launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
- The final update for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set for January 2025, indicating an end to its live service model.
David Haddad, who has been leading Warner Bros. Games for twelve years, is preparing to leave his post amidst the backlash surrounding the release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Launched in 2024, the game faced severe criticism for its gameplay mechanics and live service features, failing to cultivate a loyal player community.
Throughout the past year, Warner Bros. Games has encountered significant challenges, grappling with multiple releases that did not resonate well with fans. Alongside Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the free-to-play game MultiVersus also did not meet expectations, frustrating players due to its monetization strategies and the lack of an offline mode. Although Hogwarts Legacy enjoyed monumental success at the end of 2023, the subsequent launch of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions in September 2024 fell short, disappointing many with its uninspired graphics and repetitive gameplay.
As reported by Variety, Haddad expressed pride in his contributions to WB Games, stating, “I am so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together at Warner Bros. Games during my time with the company. It has been an absolute pleasure working on and building our iconic gaming franchises, and I will continue to be an enthusiastic supporter of this talented team’s future endeavors.”He will remain with the company for three additional months as a successor is selected.
David Haddad Steps Down After 12 Years at Warner Bros. Games
In December 2024, it was disclosed that the final content update for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will take place in January 2025, effectively ending its live service trajectory. The game’s problematic launch was particularly surprising given its development by Rocksteady, renowned for the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series. Following the game’s disappointing performance, Rocksteady had to conduct layoffs in September 2024, with its subpar sales directly cited as a contributing factor. Moreover, Warner Bros. reported a staggering $200 million loss on this title and disclosed a significant 41% decline in year-over-year revenue due to the game’s failures.
The outlook for Warner Bros. Games appears uncertain. However, the anticipated sequel to Hogwarts Legacy is expected to greatly enhance player confidence and provide crucial revenue. Fans are also eagerly awaiting the Wonder Woman game, although development sources indicate it will not launch until 2026, owing to delays that arose from announcing the title prematurely.
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