Monolith Productions, Player First Games and WB Games San Diego Closed

Warner Bros. Games has announced a strategic realignment to focus on key franchises. As a result, the three US studios Monolith Productions, Player First Games and WB Games San Diego have been closed. The Wonder Woman game was also cancelled.

After the recent upheaval, it became apparent, but probably not to this extent. Warner Bros. Games has closed three studios in the USA: Monolith Productions, Player First Games and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. The Wonder Woman game in development at Monolith Productions has also been cancelled.

In a statement, a company spokesperson explained that they had to make "very difficult decisions" to refocus their development studios and investments on their core franchises, which are Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC and Game of Thrones. The company has made it clear that this is a strategic change of direction and has nothing to do with these three development studios. The aim is to return the games business to profitability and growth.

Warner Bros. Games had a massive hit with Hogwarts Legacy in 2023, but Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus fell short of expectations. The same is probably true of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. And although Mortal Kombat 1 sold over five million copies, it failed to match the success of Mortal Kombat 11.

Monolith Productions was founded in 1994 and is best known for Blood, No One Lives Forever, F.E.A.R. and most recently Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Player First Games was founded in 2019 and had made a name for itself with MultiVersus, in part by taking it offline after its open beta launch, only to relaunch it later. Warner Bros. Games bought the studio in July 2024. Warner Bros. Games San Diego was founded in 2019 and focused on mobile games.

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