Warner Bros. shuts down Shadow of Mordor studio and cancels Wonder Woman game

Warner Bros. shuts down Shadow of Mordor studio and cancels Wonder Woman game

Major Restructuring at Warner Bros. Games: Studio Closures and Cancellations

Warner Bros. Games is currently experiencing a turbulent period in the gaming industry, following a brief but notable success with Hogwarts Legacy. The studio’s challenges have been accentuated by disappointing performances from titles like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which underperformed due to its live service model, and Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, which has likewise failed to resonate with audiences. As a consequence, the company has announced the closure of several internal studios and the cancellation of a major AAA project.

Confirmed Changes and Cancellations

According to a statement provided to Kotaku, three studios are set to cease operations: Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego. This move coincides with the decision to cancel the long-awaited DC Wonder Woman game, which had been in development for several years.

Warner Bros. Games’ Official Statement

We have had to make some very difficult decisions to structure our development studios and investments around building the best games possible with our key franchises—Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. After careful consideration, we are closing three of our development studios—Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. This is a strategic change in direction and not a reflection of these teams or the talent that consists within them.

The development of Monolith’s Wonder Woman video game will not move forward. Our hope was to give players and fans the highest quality experience possible for the iconic character, and unfortunately this is no longer possible within our strategic priorities. This is another tough decision, as we recognize Monolith’s storied history of delivering epic fan experiences through amazing games.

We greatly admire the passion of the three teams and thank every employee for their contributions. As difficult as today is, we remain focused on and excited about getting back to producing high-quality games for our passionate fans and developed by our world-class studios, aiming to restore profitability and growth in 2025 and beyond.

Legacy of Monolith Productions

Monolith Productions has a significant legacy in the gaming space, known for the acclaimed action-adventure titles Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel. The studio also developed the pioneering horror games F. E.A. R. and the beloved No One Lives Forever series. Sadly, the closure in 2024 marks exactly 30 years since the studio’s inception in 1994.

The Cancelled Wonder Woman Game

The Wonder Woman game, which was anticipated to offer a captivating single-player open-world experience, was revealed via a trailer back in 2021. It promised to utilize Monolith’s renowned Nemesis System, designed to enhance player interactions with characters across the game’s narrative, allowing them to build meaningful connections with both friends and foes alike.

Impacts on Player First Games and WB San Diego

In addition to Monolith, Player First Games faced setbacks with its platform fighter, MultiVersus, which has also been announced for shutdown recently. WB San Diego had supported MultiVersus and other live service projects, marking a significant shift in Warner Bros. Games’ operational focus.

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