MultiVersus Dev Calls Out ‘Threats to Harm’ Following Shutdown Announcement: ‘I Am in Deep Mourning for the Game’

The game director of MultiVersus, Tony Huynh, has publicly condemned the threats of violence directed at the development team following the announcement of the game's closure. Last week, Player First Games revealed that Season 5 would be the final season, with servers shutting down this May, just a year after the game's relaunch. Offline access to purchased and earned content will remain via local and training modes.

While in-game purchases are discontinued, players can still utilize Gleamium and character tokens until May 30th. The game will also be delisted from major digital storefronts.

The announcement, coupled with the absence of a refund policy, sparked outrage among players, particularly those who purchased the $100 Founder's Pack, leading to accusations of being "scammed" and a wave of negative reviews on Steam.

Huynh's statement addressed player concerns and strongly denounced the threats:

"Hey all, I wanted to say a few words...While I'm sad about the outcome, I will forever be grateful...Also to every IP holder thank you...I couldn’t be prouder of the work the PFG team did...And of course I wanted to thank every player...Delighting and serving players is Player First Games objective. I apologize for not addressing things sooner...Thank you for sending us all the great fan art, character ideas, and personal stories...I’m sorry if we couldn’t get to your favorite character...For instance BananaGuard came about because the team was enthusiastic...I don’t have the power some you think I do...I also hope that the community notices that we try to listen and act...I know that this is painful for everyone...but I have to call this out, you’re entitled to what you say and think, but when there are threats to harm it’s crossing the line...Nobody wanted this outcome and it wasn’t from lack of caring or effort...I sincerely hope that Season 5 is enjoyed...I hope that we played a small part and that you can look back on MVS and find some joy...Thank you for allowing this dream to become a reality...It has been an honor to work alongside the team at PFG to serve our community and players."

Player First Games' community manager, Angelo Rodriguez Jr., echoed Huynh's sentiments, defending him against the threats and highlighting the team's dedication. He emphasized the team's hard work and commitment to listening to player feedback.

MultiVersus' failure adds to Warner Bros. Games' recent struggles, following the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and the underwhelming launch of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. Warner Bros. Discovery reported significant financial losses attributed to these titles. David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, acknowledged the underperformance of their games division and announced a renewed focus on key franchises like Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and DC, particularly Batman.