More Layoffs at Studio Behind Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Overview of Recent Layoffs at Rocksteady

Rocksteady has experienced significant layoffs following the underwhelming performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
The studio’s QA team was notably reduced by 50% in September, reflecting the game’s disappointing sales.
Recent staff cuts have affected Rocksteady’s programming and art departments as the team prepares for the final game update.

Rocksteady Studios, renowned for its acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, faces another wave of layoffs amid the fallout from its latest title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The game, debuted with mixed reviews, became increasingly contentious post-launch, prompting the studio to halt new content development after a final narrative update in January 2024.

Financial issues loomed large over Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, with parent company Warner Bros. reporting disappointing sales figures as early as February 2024. As a direct consequence, Rocksteady streamlined its quality assurance division, resulting in the termination of approximately half of its QA staff, reducing their numbers from 33 to 15 employees.

Unfortunately, the layoffs have not ended there. Recent reports from Eurogamer indicate that, as 2024 concluded, additional cuts targeted both the QA team and other roles within the programming and art sectors. Several affected employees, opting for anonymity to safeguard their careers, shared their experiences of being laid off, while Warner Bros. maintained silence regarding both the September and recent layoffs.

Rocksteady Faces Ongoing Challenges Post-Suicide Squad

Rocksteady’s challenges are not isolated; WB Games Montreal, which developed titles like Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights, also announced layoffs in December 2024. This round, primarily impacting the QA team that assisted Rocksteady with its DLC, reflected the broader struggles linked to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League‘s performance.

The controversial game’s final DLC was launched on December 10, introducing Deathstroke from Batman: Arkham Origins as the last additional playable character. While Rocksteady prepares to release one final update to conclude the Suicide Squad narrative, uncertainties linger regarding the studio’s future direction. This title’s setbacks mark a difficult chapter for Rocksteady, overshadowing its legacy of successful DC-themed video games.

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