Warner Bros. Games has officially announced the termination of online services for its crossover fighting game, MultiVersus, which will go offline on May 30, 2025, following the close of its fifth and final season. This decision highlights the challenges of sustaining player engagement within live-service games, as MultiVersus faced substantial hurdles after its initial success.
Initially launched on May 28, 2024, the free-to-play title attracted considerable attention by featuring popular characters from various Warner Bros. franchises, such as DC Comics and Looney Tunes. Unfortunately, after boasting significant player numbers, MultiVersus began to struggle with retention, costing Warner Bros. upwards of $100 million by late 2024.
The game started strong with its open beta, which saw 20 million players within the first month of release. Despite this early success and the excitement surrounding its cast—featuring characters like Batman, Arya Stark, and Bugs Bunny—interest waned sharply. The game's developer, Player First Games, had to take it offline for improvements last March before re-launching it officially.
“After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision to cease our support for MultiVersus,” reported Warner Bros. Games. The fifth season is set to begin on February 4, 2025, and will introduce two new characters: Aquaman from DC and Lola Bunny from the Looney Tunes series. Season 5 allows players to earn all new content through gameplay, promising familiar excitement for fans.
According to Warner Bros. Games, online features will remain functional until 9 AM PST on May 30, the same day the game will be removed from digital storefronts. Following this date, those who logged in during Season 5 can still access the game for offline play, utilizing local saves and playing against AI opponents or friends.
Key to players' continued enjoyment after the online services cease is the necessary step to update their title during Season 5: “After logging in, a local save file will be automatically created,” the statement explained. With no real-money transactions currently permitted, players can still utilize any remaining Gleamium to access content until the end of Season 5.
Reflecting on its challenges, Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav noted the company's video game division had been “substantially underperforming,” shedding light on the decisions leading to the impending closure of MultiVersus. The market has seen other high-profile titles, like XDefiant and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, also face similar fates, raising questions about the sustainability of live-service models.
Despite the shutdown, many fans already anticipate celebrating the game's legacy. The closing Season 5 promises to evoke nostalgia as players brawl with their heroes one last time. “We want to thank every player and person who has ever played or supported MultiVersus,” the team expressed their gratitude for the community's backing.
With this last hurrah, fans are left to ponder what could have been for MultiVersus. Exciting character crossovers and intriguing gameplay had the potential to grab attention. Yet, as data from Steam Charts indicates, the excitement could not be sustained, leading to its untimely end.
While the game's online functionality may disappear, players can still engage with their beloved characters through offline battles. Information surrounding the final season and what it entails has sparked discussions among enthusiasts, urging them to log back on and enjoy MultiVersus one last time.
It’s undeniable; MultiVersus had unlimited potential but faced hurdles along the way, signaling the trials and tribulations of live-service games. Fans hope to see the gaming world learn from these experiences, charting new courses for success.