Warner Bros. Games has made the startling announcement of the cancellation of its much-anticipated Wonder Woman video game, alongside the closure of three of its development studios: Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego. This decision marks a significant shift for the company as it restructures its gaming division to refocus on its most recognized franchises.
The cancellation and studio closures were reported by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier on February 25, 2025, shedding light on the troubled development history of the Wonder Woman title. Originally unveiled at The Game Awards 2021, the game had not seen significant updates for several years, leading to growing concerns among fans and industry insiders about its viability.
According to Schreier's report, the game was rumored to showcase Wonder Woman’s iconic Lasso of Truth and potentially utilize the innovative Nemesis system seen in Monolith’s previous titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Despite high expectations, the game's development faced multiple challenges, and little was delivered to maintain player interest.
Warner Bros. Games confirmed the closure of the three studios, stating, "This is a strategic change in direction and not a reflection of these teams or the talent within them.” The spokesperson emphasized the goal of focusing on building the best games possible around key franchises such as Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, and DC Comics.
David Haddad, who served as president of Warner Bros. Games until his exit earlier this year, had been overseeing these projects. Although speculation points fingers at the current leadership under CEO David Zaslav, many industry professionals recognize Haddad's broader influence on the gaming division during his tenure.
Monolith Productions, which was founded in 1994, has been known for its critically acclaimed games, including the F.E.A.R. series and the Middle-earth franchise. Its last major contribution was Middle-earth: Shadow of War, released back in 2017. The closure of Monolith is particularly notable, as it had not shipped any new titles for nearly five years, raising questions about Warner Bros.’ development strategy.
Financial struggles have plagued Warner Bros.' gaming sector, exacerbated by recent failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and the anticipated shutdown of MultiVersus, which had once generated over 20 million players but failed to sustain its momentum.
Other titles under Warner Bros. have performed well, with Hogwarts Legacy becoming the best-selling game of 2023. This success, though substantial, has not been enough to counterbalance the losses from underperforming titles. The company aims to prioritize fewer projects with potentially larger impacts, pivoting away from previously ambitious but faltering endeavors.
Remarkably, this restructuring casts uncertainty upon Warner Bros. Games' future projects. Plans remain unconfirmed for sequels to successful titles or new ventures from within the gaming studios, leaving gamers to wonder what lies next for their beloved franchises.
Despite these industry changes, Warner Bros. has communicated its intent to remain committed to the gaming experiences fans have come to expect, with hopes to revitalize its gaming operations and return to profitability by 2025.
With the gaming industry facing constant evolution, the closure of these studios reflects a challenging environment not just for Warner Bros., but also for the larger gaming community enveloped in layoffs and studio terminations across the board.
For the dedicated fans of Wonder Woman and the several longstanding titles from Monolith Productions, this news echoes as another chapter closed within the rapidly changing dynamics of game development.