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

Warner Bros. has made the tough 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, first reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier on Bluesky and later detailed in a full report, was confirmed by Warner Bros. in a statement to Kotaku.

In their statement, Warner Bros. explained that the decision was part of a strategic restructuring aimed at focusing their resources on key franchises such as Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. The closure of the studios and the cancellation of the Wonder Woman game were described as "a strategic change in direction and not a reflection of these teams or the talent that consists within them."

Monolith Productions, which had been developing the Wonder Woman game, was particularly highlighted. Warner Bros. expressed their regret over the cancellation, stating, "Our hope was to give players and fans the highest quality experience possible for the iconic character, and unfortunately this is no longer possible within our strategic priorities." They also acknowledged Monolith's significant contributions to the gaming industry, notably through the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series, which introduced the innovative Nemesis system.

The shutdowns come at a challenging time for Warner Bros.' gaming division, which has faced several hurdles recently. Earlier in the year, Bloomberg reported that the Wonder Woman game was already struggling after a reboot and change of directors in early 2024. This was compounded by other issues, including layoffs at Rocksteady, the underwhelming reception to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and the closure of MultiVersus.

Adding to the turmoil, Warner Bros. Games has undergone a significant restructuring, marked by the departure of long-time head David Haddad and rumors of a potential sale of the division. These developments are a setback for Warner Bros.' efforts to expand its DC universe through gaming, especially as James Gunn and Peter Safran recently announced that the first DCU video game is still a couple of years away.

The closure of these studios marks a significant loss for the gaming industry. Monolith Productions, founded in 1994 and acquired by Warner Bros. in 2004, has a storied history. Player First Games, established in 2019, developed the critically acclaimed MultiVersus, while WB San Diego, also founded in 2019, focused on mobile and free-to-play games.

This move is part of a broader trend of layoffs, project cancellations, and studio closures in the games 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 continued closures, the exact impact on individuals remains less clear as fewer companies report specific numbers.