Warner Bros. Games has confirmed it’s developing a new live-service title despite its recent string of commercial failures in the space. This announcement comes on the heels of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which launched earlier this year to poor reviews and quickly lost its player base despite being developed by the acclaimed Rocksteady Studios.
The publisher has struggled repeatedly with the live-service model. MultiVersus, their platform fighter that initially showed promise as a “Smash Bros.” competitor, was pulled from stores after its beta only to relaunch in 2024 with changes that failed to win back players. Quidditch Champions, their Harry Potter spin-off, quickly faded into obscurity even after being offered free through PlayStation Plus.
These failures stand in stark contrast to Warner Bros. Games’ success with single-player experiences. Hogwarts Legacy sold over 30 million copies, while the Batman: Arkham series received widespread acclaim for its storytelling and gameplay innovations.
Industry analysts point to the financial motivation behind Warner Bros.’ persistence. Live-service games can generate massive long-term revenue through battle passes, cosmetic items, and seasonal content. Successful titles like Fortnite and Destiny have proven that one hit in this space can offset years of failures.
The new live-service project remains shrouded in mystery. No details about its genre, IP, or release timeline have been revealed, though speculation suggests it might leverage one of Warner Bros.’ major franchises like DC Comics, Mortal Kombat, or Harry Potter. All we currently know is that Warner Bros. Games in Montreal has posted a job for an executive producer mentioning game development “from concept to post-launch live operations.”
The publisher’s commitment to the live-service model comes amid internal turmoil following the Warner Bros./Discovery merger, with reports of studio closures and staff reductions following underperforming games. Rocksteady Studios itself reportedly experienced significant departures after Suicide Squad failed to meet expectations.
Third time lucky?
The gaming community has expressed skepticism about Warner Bros.’ continued pursuit of live-service success. Many players have voiced preference for the company’s story-driven single-player experiences, pointing to the unused potential of innovations like the Nemesis System from the Shadow of Mordor series.
Despite the criticism, Warner Bros. Games appears determined to find its footing in an increasingly competitive live-service market, where player attention is already dominated by established titles with years of content development behind them.
