Warner Bros. Axes Wonder Woman Game, Shuts Down Three Studios

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 detailed in a full report on Bloomberg. Warner Bros. subsequently confirmed these closures to Kotaku, emphasizing a strategic shift towards focusing on key franchises such as Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones.

In their statement, Warner Bros. explained that these closures are part of a strategic realignment aimed at producing the highest quality games with their core franchises. The decision to halt development on Monolith's Wonder Woman game was particularly tough, as the company aimed to deliver an exceptional experience for fans of the iconic character. However, this project no longer aligns with their strategic priorities.

Monolith Productions, known for its acclaimed Middle-earth games, Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, which introduced the innovative Nemesis system, has been a significant part of Warner Bros. since its acquisition in 2004. Player First Games, founded in 2019, developed MultiVersus, which, despite critical acclaim and initial success, did not meet Warner Bros.' expectations. WB San Diego, also established in 2019, focused on mobile and free-to-play games.

This move is a setback for Warner Bros.' efforts to expand its DC universe-connected gaming portfolio, especially following recent comments by James Gunn and Peter Safran that the first DCU video game is still a couple of years away. The closures come amidst a broader restructuring at Warner Bros. Games, including the departure of long-time games head David Haddad and speculation about the potential sale of the division.

These closures reflect a continuing trend of layoffs, project cancellations, and studio shutdowns in the gaming industry. In 2023, over 10,000 game developers were laid off, with the number rising to over 14,000 in 2024. While 2025 has seen numerous closures, the exact impact on individuals remains unclear due to less transparent reporting from companies.