Warner Bros. Cancels Wonder Woman Game, Closes Three Studios

Warner Bros. Games is restructuring, resulting in the cancellation of its planned Wonder Woman game and the closure of three studios: Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB Games San Diego. This news, initially reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, was subsequently confirmed by Warner Bros. in a statement.

The statement cited a strategic shift focusing development on key franchises like Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones. While acknowledging the talent and contributions of the affected teams, the company explained the decision as necessary to build the "best games possible." The cancellation of the Wonder Woman game was attributed to the project no longer aligning with strategic priorities.

This move follows earlier reports of difficulties surrounding the Wonder Woman game's development, including reboots and director changes in early 2024. These challenges occurred within a broader context of struggles within Warner Bros. Games, encompassing layoffs at Rocksteady, the mixed reception of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and the shutdown of MultiVersus. The recent departure of long-time games head David Haddad and rumors of a potential sale of the division further underscore the ongoing restructuring.

The closures represent a significant blow to Warner Bros.' DC universe gaming ambitions, especially considering James Gunn and Peter Safran's recent announcement that the first DCU video game is still a couple of years away.

The impacted studios boast impressive legacies. Monolith Productions, founded in 1994 and acquired by WB in 2004, is renowned for the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series, which pioneered the acclaimed Nemesis system. Player First Games, established in 2019, developed MultiVersus, a critically well-received title that, despite initial success, fell short of expectations. WB Games San Diego, also founded in 2019, focused on mobile, free-to-play games.

These closures reflect a broader trend in the games industry. The past three years have witnessed a surge in layoffs, project cancellations, and studio closures. While precise figures for 2025 are less readily available due to reduced reporting, the trend of significant job losses continues, following over 10,000 layoffs in 2023 and over 14,000 in 2024.