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Warner Bros. Just Pulled the Plug on Three Studios and Cancelled Wonder Woman
February 26, 2025In a move that has shocked the gaming industry, Warner Bros. Games has announced the closure of three major studios—Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB Games San Diego—while cancelling the highly anticipated Wonder Woman game.
The decision, revealed in an internal memo by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO JB Perrette, is part of a larger strategy shift, focusing only on a handful of key franchises: Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC (primarily Batman), and Game of Thrones. The news comes after a rough financial year for the publisher, which has struggled with a string of underwhelming releases.
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What Led to These Sudden Closures?
It’s no secret that Warner Bros. Games has had a disappointing run in 2024. From the flop of MultiVersus’ relaunch to the lukewarm reception of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the publisher has faced mounting pressure to course-correct its gaming division.
Perrette’s memo to employees made it clear:
“The product-market fit and quality of too many of our new releases has really missed the mark.”
With Warner Bros. shifting its focus to “fewer but bigger franchises,” smaller studios and experimental projects like the Wonder Woman game have been deemed non-essential.
Monolith Productions: The End of an Era
One of the biggest casualties of this restructuring is Monolith Productions, the legendary studio behind the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series.
Monolith was working on the Wonder Woman game, announced in 2021, which was expected to feature the Nemesis System—one of the studio’s most celebrated gameplay innovations. However, Wonder Woman has now been officially scrapped, despite years of development.
Perrette justified the decision, stating:
“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.”
For fans of Monolith, this closure marks the end of an era. The Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War games were critically acclaimed, but despite their success, the studio struggled to find a foothold in Warner Bros.’ evolving business strategy.
MultiVersus Studio Player First Games Also Shut Down
Player First Games, the team behind MultiVersus, is also being shuttered.
MultiVersus, Warner Bros.’ ambitious platform fighter featuring Batman, Superman, and Bugs Bunny, initially launched to massive success in 2022. However, after shutting down for a major overhaul, its 2024 relaunch flopped, failing to recapture its original momentum. As a result, Player First Games is no more, and the future of MultiVersus is uncertain.
WB Games San Diego: A Mystery Project Canceled
WB Games San Diego, which was reportedly working on a AAA free-to-play cross-platform title, is also shutting down. Little was known about this mysterious project, but its cancellation reinforces Warner Bros.’ pivot away from experimental games and toward surefire moneymakers.
What’s Next for Warner Bros. Games?
Warner Bros. isn’t giving up on gaming altogether. Instead, it’s narrowing its focus on four key franchises:
- Harry Potter (Hogwarts Legacy series)
- Mortal Kombat (NetherRealm’s iconic fighting series)
- DC Universe (primarily Batman-focused games)
- Game of Thrones (potential future titles in development)
Perrette emphasized that Warner Bros. is doubling down on these IPs, aiming to “regain credibility” and rebuild trust with fans.
“We need to and will do better for our fans first and foremost, and also because regaining that credibility is critical to us securing even more investment in Games in the years to come.”
This suggests that more Batman games are on the way, along with potential new titles based on Game of Thrones and Hogwarts Legacy. However, outside of these four franchises, Warner Bros. is taking a massive step back from game development.
A Grim Outlook for Warner Bros. Gaming?
The gaming industry is no stranger to studio closures, but the shutdown of Monolith, Player First Games, and WB Games San Diego signals a significant shift in Warner Bros.’ approach. Wonder Woman fans will be left disappointed, as the chance to see Diana Prince in an open-world action RPG is now gone. Likewise, the future of MultiVersus is uncertain, and we may never know what WB Games San Diego was working on.
For now, Warner Bros. is banking on Batman, Hogwarts, Mortal Kombat, and Game of Thrones to keep its gaming division alive. Whether that strategy works remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts
The closure of Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB Games San Diego is a major shake-up for Warner Bros. Games. With a renewed focus on its biggest IPs, the company is looking to rebuild its gaming reputation after a rough 2024.
However, for fans who were excited for Wonder Woman, hopeful for a MultiVersus comeback, or curious about WB San Diego’s project, this news is a bitter disappointment. The gaming industry is changing rapidly, and it’s clear Warner Bros. is playing it safe. The question now is: Will this risk-averse approach pay off, or will it further alienate fans?
While games are fun, it’s highly important to note that there’s more to life than sitting countless hours playing video games – there’s a purpose and more to life; seek out that purpose more often!
