Warner Bros. has made the difficult decision to cancel its highly anticipated Wonder Woman game and close three of its development studios: Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego. This news was first reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier on Bluesky and later confirmed by Warner Bros. in a statement to Kotaku.
In their statement, Warner Bros. explained that the closures are part of a strategic shift to focus on key franchises such as Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. The company emphasized that these decisions were not a reflection of the talent within the affected studios but rather a necessary move to align their development efforts with their core priorities.
The Wonder Woman game, which was being developed by Monolith Productions, will no longer move forward. Warner Bros. expressed their regret over this decision, acknowledging Monolith's history of delivering exceptional gaming experiences, such as the critically acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Shadow of War. The Nemesis system, a groundbreaking feature introduced in Shadow of Mordor, was patented by Warner Bros. in 2021.
Player First Games, known for the critically acclaimed but underperforming MultiVersus, and WB San Diego, which focused on mobile and free-to-play games, are also affected by these closures. Both studios were established in 2019 and had been working on projects that did not meet Warner Bros.' expectations.
This move comes amidst broader challenges within Warner Bros.' gaming division, including earlier reports of the Wonder Woman game facing difficulties after a reboot and director change in early 2024. The company has also experienced layoffs at Rocksteady and a lukewarm reception to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, as well as the shutdown of MultiVersus.
The gaming industry has been hit hard by layoffs and closures over the past three years, with over 10,000 developers laid off in 2023 and more than 14,000 in 2024. The exact impact of 2025's closures remains unclear, as fewer companies are reporting specific numbers.
Additionally, Warner Bros. Games has undergone a significant restructuring, with long-time head David Haddad announcing his departure and rumors circulating about the potential sale of the division. This latest development is a significant setback for Warner Bros.' efforts to expand its DC universe-connected gaming portfolio, especially following James Gunn and Peter Safran's recent announcement that the first DCU video game is still a couple of years away.
The closure of these studios marks a challenging time for the gaming industry, as it loses three studios with rich histories and innovative contributions to the world of gaming.
